The Milwaukee Bucks find themselves walking a tightrope, torn between rising playoff pressure and glimmers of promise. Two games in, and they’re already staring down a 2-0 deficit against the Indiana Pacers in the first round. While Giannis Antetokounmpo has been doing everything in his power, putting up near-unstoppable numbers with close to 35 points and double-digit rebounds in both matchups, it’s hard to ignore the imbalance. On the other side, Pascal Siakam hasn’t just been showing up—he’s been getting solid backup from his squad. That’s exactly what Giannis needs, and finally, there might be someone ready to answer that call: Damian Lillard.

Back in the starting five for the first time since March, Lillard wasted no time making his presence felt. He was locked in early, dropping 6 points, grabbing 2 rebounds, and dishing an assist in just ten minutes while going 2-for-3 from the floor. While he couldn’t sustain that momentum the entire night and finished with 14 points and 7 assists, his return marked something far more important. With that performance, Damian Lillard reached a major career milestone. He now ranks among an elite group as the 95th player in NBA history to hit 1,700 career playoff points.

And that hasn’t gone unnoticed. Former Lakers forward Matt Barnes took a moment to celebrate the milestone, writing on his Instagram story, “GOD is great… Welcome back bro @damianlillard.” For someone just getting back into the rhythm after a long break, that kind of welcome speaks volumes. Now it’s to be seen if his return can bring the much-needed comeback for the Bucks.

Let’s not forget what Damian Lillard brought to the table all season. Across 58 games, he averaged 24.9 points, 4.7 boards, 7.1 assists, and 1.2 steals, shooting 44.8 percent overall and 37.6 percent from deep. If he can get back into that groove by Game 3, this series isn’t over—not by a long shot. With Giannis and Lillard leading the charge, the Bucks might just be gearing up for a major comeback.

Do the records have any hope for teams at a 2-0 deficit in the playoffs?

If you’re a Bucks fan staring at a 2-0 hole, the numbers probably feel like a punch to the gut. As Sports Illustrated pointed out in a recent article, teams that take a 2–0 lead go on to win the series 92.6 percent of the time. That’s about as close to a sure thing as you get in pro sports. And for the teams on the losing end? The record is 34-459. That’s a steep hill, no doubt. But before you write off Milwaukee’s title dreams, take a breath.

The league isn’t the same as it once was. Parity has grown across the board, and while comebacks from this position are still rare, they’re no longer unthinkable. According to SI, 22 of those 34 series comebacks have come since the turn of the millennium.

However, it wasn’t always this way. The first team to fight back from 0–2 in a best-of-seven? The Lakers in 1969, toppling the Warriors. Over the next three decades, it happened only 10 more times. Then came 2021—four comebacks in a single postseason. That shift is real. And with Giannis getting a boost from Damian Lillard, who’s to say the Bucks can’t add one more to this list? Especially when the 9x All-Star will be riding high on the confidence of his recent achievement.