The Milwaukee Bucks will reportedly be without star Giannis Antetokounmpo for the start of their playoff series against the Indiana Pacers.
Adrian Wojnarowski ESPN reported the news, saying the team “hopes that he will be able to return sometime late in the series after treatment for a strained left calf muscle.”
Shams Charania The Athletic and Stadium reported Monday that Antetokounmpo, who is continuing to rehabilitate a calf injury sustained in an April 9 game against the Boston Celtics, will be scheduled to play in Milwaukee's first-round playoff series against the Pacers. It was reported that there was “some doubt” about his status as a starter. .
The Bucks initially feared the worst when the two-time MVP went down with a non-contact injury against Boston, but officials assured Wojnarowski that Antetokounmpo's left Achilles tendon is completely intact. He said there is.
Antetokounmpo played in 73 games this season, averaging 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks while shooting a career-high 61.1 percent from the field and once again entering the MVP conversation. . He helped lead Milwaukee to a 49-33 record, but the team had higher aspirations.
The Bucks fired first-year head coach Adrian Griffin midway through the season and replaced him with Doc Rivers. Despite having an experienced coach at the helm, Milwaukee still struggled to find consistency. Coach Rivers' team finished with a record of 17 wins and 19 losses.
With Antetokounmpo likely to miss time, it's unlikely the Bucks will be able to get past the Pacers in a seven-game series. In Antetokounmpo's absence, Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton will carry the load on offense.
