Milwaukee Bucks ahead Giannis Antetokounmpo (left calf pressure) has been dominated out forward of Friday evening’s Sport 3 matchup with the Indiana Pacers within the Japanese Convention first-round playoff collection.
Antetokounmpo, 29, has already missed the primary two video games of this collection. The eight-time All-Star hasn’t performed since straining his left calf towards the Boston Celtics on April 9.
“Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as out for as we speak’s recreation,” the Bucks posted from their official X account. The 11-year veteran missed Milwaukee’s closing three regular-season video games.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as out for as we speak’s recreation.
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 26, 2024
“He’s getting shut,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers mentioned Thursday. “However I don’t know what that even means. I’m being sincere. I noticed him transferring round and, in my thoughts, I mentioned he’s getting shut. Does that imply a day, 4 days? I’m unsure.”
In 73 video games (all begins) of the common season, Antetokounmpo averaged 30.4 factors, 11.5 rebounds, a career-high 6.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks whereas capturing 61.1% from the sphere and 65.7% on the foul line.
In fact, in Milwaukee’s 140-126 win over the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 13, Antetokounmpo recorded a career-high 64 factors on solely 28 discipline aim makes an attempt, essentially the most factors scored with fewer than 30 discipline aim makes an attempt in a recreation in NBA historical past. His 64 factors had been a franchise file as nicely.
Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo (left calf pressure) stays out for Sport 3 towards Indiana Pacers
Milwaukee can also be now with out Khris Middleton, who suffered a sprained proper ankle in Sport 2 and didn’t practising Thursday.
In accordance with Milwaukee’s newest harm report, Antetokounmpo continues to be listed as uncertain, and Middleton stays questionable for Friday’s recreation at Indianapolis.
Middleton missed the Bucks’ closing 10 playoff video games in 2022 with a sprained medial collateral ligament.
Final 12 months, a bruised decrease again sidelined Antetokounmpo for Sport 1 and triggered him to overlook the following two video games in Milwaukee’s first-round collection loss to an eighth-seeded Miami Warmth squad.
Sport 3. pic.twitter.com/bKC72wTcrO
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 26, 2024
The Bucks and Pacers are presently tied 1-1 within the best-of-seven collection.
For noteworthy betting developments, Milwaukee is 1-6 in its final seven highway video games and 2-5 in its previous seven video games towards the Pacers. The Bucks are 3-7 of their earlier 10 contests as nicely.
Indiana is 5-2 in its previous seven video games and 7-13 in its final 20 video games performed in April. The Pacers are additionally 5-0 of their earlier 5 dwelling video games, and the purpose whole has gone over in six of their previous seven contests.
NBA sportsbooks present the Bucks as 7-point underdogs at Indiana forward of Sport 3. Per ESPN’s Basketball Energy Index, the Pacers maintain a 58.9% probability of defeating Milwaukee.
