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Giannis Antetokounmpo (source: X)
The Milwaukee Bucks are preparing for the postseason with concerns about the health of their top two players as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are not available for Milwaukee Bucks game against Indiana Pacers.
Doc Rivers, the Milwaukee Bucks' coach, stated that both two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and seven-time all-NBA player Damian Lillard practiced Tuesday. Rivers said he wasn't sure whether either would practice all week, but both might play Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday without practicing.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is healing from a left calf injury, which forced him to miss the Bucks' last three regular-season games. During the Milwaukee Bucks game against the Boston Celtics Giannis Antetokounmpo tried to sprint up but failed to do so as he sat on the floor while holding his left leg and later MRI revealed in strained soleus.
According to News 18, Doc Rivers stated on Tuesday that, “He’s doing well.” “He’s walking around, looks good. I can say (he’s) farther than we thought he would be, but just not ready yet.”
Antetokounmpo averaged 42.2 points and 13 rebounds over the Milwaukee Bucks five regular-season games against the Pacers. Antetokounmpo scored 64 points in the Bucks' only victory over the Pacers this season, setting a new single-game record.
Injury concerns worry Milwaukee Bucks
Damian Lillard missed out on Friday's defeat to Oklahoma City Thunder due to a strained left adductor. He returned two days later, but he went 2 of 14 from the floor in a defeat to Orlando. The Bucks are used to dealing with injury difficulties throughout the postseason.
Antetokounmpo has an extensive track of fast recovery from injuries, with the most noteworthy instance occurring during the Bucks' 2021 championship run. Antetokounmpo hyperextended his left knee in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference playoffs that season, missing the remaining two games of the Bucks' 4-2 triumph over the Atlanta Hawks. But he returned to play the whole NBA Finals, earning MVP honors after scoring 50 points in a title-clinching Game 6 victory over the Phoenix Suns.