MILWAUKEE– Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard is off blood-thinning medication and has been cleared for full basketball activity, a major step forward in his return from the deep vein thrombosis that has kept him out for the last month.

The Bucks open the series Saturday with Game 2 slated for Thursday in Indianapolis, before returning home for Games 3 and 4 in Milwaukee on April 25 and 27. Earlier this week, the Bucks said in a statement that Lillard has made "significant" improvement and continues to increase his on-court basketball activity.