Bucks without Giannis Antetokounmpo for Game 1 win vs. Pacers

MILWAUKEE — Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t play within the Bucks’ 109-94 Sport 1 win in opposition to the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night time.

Antetokounmpo has not performed since April 9, sitting out Milwaukee’s ultimate three regular-season video games with a strained calf.

The Bucks stay hopeful the remedy for Antetokounmpo’s harm will enable him to return someday later within the sequence, sources instructed ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Coach Doc Rivers, in the meantime, mentioned he nonetheless didn’t have any readability on an harm timeline.

“We put together with what’s on the ground,” Rivers mentioned earlier than Sport 1. “Giannis has accomplished a number of work. He is taking pictures, he is working once more, he seems to be good, however he hasn’t been capable of take part.”

Accidents have saved Antetokounmpo out of playoff video games for the second straight season. He suffered a again harm in Sport 1 of the 2023 playoffs and was sidelined the subsequent two video games in opposition to the Miami Warmth. He returned for Sport 4, however the Bucks misplaced the sequence in 5 video games.

Antetokounmpo averaged 42.2 factors and 13 rebounds in Milwaukee’s 5 regular-season conferences with Indiana. He scored a franchise-record 64 factors within the Bucks’ solely win in opposition to the Pacers.

The Bucks went 4-5 with out Antetokounmpo in the course of the common season.

“We have actually ready this week with what we have had,” Rivers mentioned earlier than Sunday’s sport.