Milwaukee Bucks ahead Giannis Antetokounmpo (left calf pressure) has been dominated out forward of Friday night time’s Sport 3 matchup with the Indiana Pacers within the Japanese Convention first-round playoff sequence.
Antetokounmpo, 29, has already missed the primary two video games of this sequence. The eight-time All-Star hasn’t performed since straining his left calf in opposition to the Boston Celtics on April 9.
“Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as out for immediately’s recreation,” the Bucks posted from their official X account. The 11-year veteran missed Milwaukee’s ultimate three regular-season video games.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as out for immediately’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 trustworthy. 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.
After all, in Milwaukee’s 140-126 win over the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 13, Antetokounmpo recorded a career-high 64 factors on solely 28 discipline purpose makes an attempt, essentially the most factors scored with fewer than 30 discipline purpose makes an attempt in a recreation in NBA historical past. His 64 factors have been a franchise document as nicely.
Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo (left calf pressure) stays out for Sport 3 in opposition to Indiana Pacers
Milwaukee can also be now with out Khris Middleton, who suffered a sprained proper ankle in Sport 2 and didn’t training Thursday.
In response to Milwaukee’s newest damage report, Antetokounmpo remains to be listed as uncertain, and Middleton stays questionable for Friday’s recreation at Indianapolis.
Middleton missed the Bucks’ ultimate 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 precipitated him to overlook the subsequent two video games in Milwaukee’s first-round sequence 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 at the moment tied 1-1 within the best-of-seven sequence.
For noteworthy betting tendencies, Milwaukee is 1-6 in its final seven highway video games and 2-5 in its previous seven video games in opposition to 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 residence video games, and the purpose complete 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.