Milwaukee Bucks starts their playoff campaign without Giannis Antetokounmpo

Milwaukee Bucks began the playoffs without Giannis Antetokounmpo on Sunday due to a left calf injury that sidelined the two-time MVP for the Bucks' last three regular season games. 

According to Bucks coach Doc Rivers, Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss Game 1 of the Bucks' Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers. Antetokounmpo had been labeled as questionable for Sunday's game.

Rivers stated that Antetokounmpo "looks better, for sure," but did not provide any information on when he could be eligible to play. Game 2 will take place on Tuesday in Milwaukee. According to AP News, he stated that, “We prepare with what’s on the floor.” “Giannis has done a lot of work. He’s shooting. He’s running again. He looks good. But he hasn’t been able to participate, so we prepared this week with what we have.”

This season, the two-time MVP averaged 42.2 points, 13 rebounds, and 5.4 assists versus the Pacers, and he set a franchise record with 64 points in Milwaukee's only win over Indiana.

Antetokounmpo was struggling to sprint across the court in the third quarter of an April 9 win against the Boston Celtics when he gripped his left leg and sat down. Antetokounmpo ultimately went to the locker room, where an MRI confirmed a muscular injury.

Giannis Antetokounmpo missed many matches due to injury

Antetokounmpo missed five regular-season games, and the Bucks finished 4-5. They lost their final two games, dropping from second to third place in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee has gotten used to playing without its studs this season. The Bucks' best three players Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, and Khris Middleton were only available for five of their past 33 games.

 Antetokounmpo was second in the NBA in scoring (30.4), sixth in rebounding (11.5), and 14th in assists (6.5) this season. He became the only player in league history to average more than 30 points per game and shoot at least 60% from the field.

He missed the last 1 1/2 games of a 2020 second-round defeat to Miami due to a sprained ankle. He missed the final two games of the 2021 Eastern Conference playoffs due to a hyperextended knee, but he returned to lead the Bucks to their first championship since 1971, earning playoffs MVP honors after scoring 50 points in a title-clinching Game 6 win over the Phoenix Suns.