How Giannis' injury update impacts Bucks

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) on the court following his injury vs. the Celtics on April 9. Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

How Giannis Antetokounmpo's injury update impacts Bucks in first-round

By Clark Dalton | Last updated 4/16/24

An injury update on star power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo could spell trouble for the Milwaukee Bucks ahead of their matchup against the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs.

Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the No. 3 seed Bucks expect Antetokounmpo (left calf strain) to miss the start of the series. The two-time MVP is still undergoing treatment and could eventually return.

ESPN Sources: The Milwaukee Bucks are preparing to be without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo for the start of their opening round series against the Indiana Pacers, but are hopeful treatment on his left calf strain will allow him to return sometime later in the series. pic.twitter.com/8p0wCiRSRl
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 16, 2024

Antetokounmpo's injury makes a challenging matchup for Milwaukee even more difficult. The Pacers (47-35) went 4-1 against the Bucks (49-33) this season when the eight-time All-Star was in their lineup.

Since Antetokounmpo suffered his injury against the Boston Celtics on April 9, the Bucks have sputtered. They lost two of their last three regular-season games, averaging 104 points per game during this stretch. Indiana, meanwhile, averaged 139 points per game over its final three regular-season contests.

Milwaukee and Indiana last played on Jan. 3 before Doc Rivers took over as Bucks head coach on Jan. 29. Guard Damian Lillard hinted the coaching change could make a difference.

"We've had some down moments and we've come back from those moments. Then we get a new coach and then we have a different way about us, different style of play," Lillard recently said, per ESPN's Jamal Collier. "Just so many different things we've learned about ourselves from going through stuff."

Rivers, however, has a 17-18 playoff series record in 25 seasons, which doesn't inspire confidence.

Last season, the Miami Heat stunned the Bucks, beating them in five games in the first round of the playoffs. Considering Antetokounmpo's status remains uncertain, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Pacers also pull off an upset.

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