NBA

Bucks bracing for Giannis Antetokounmpo to miss start of Pacers playoff series with injury

By
Social Links for Matt Ehalt
Published April 16, 2024
Updated April 16, 2024, 11:05 a.m. ET

A Giannis Antetokounmpo injury doomed the Bucks in the first round last season.

And Milwaukee now has to hope it’s not déjà vu.

The No. 3-seeded Bucks are preparing to be without the two-time MVP “for the start” of their first-round series against the No. 6 Pacers because of a left calf strain, according to ESPN.

They are hopeful he can return later in the series. He has been undergoing treatment to aid a potential return, per the report.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (c) is hopeful he can return this postseason.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (c) is hopeful he can return this postseason. Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Antetokounmpo suffered the calf strain against the Celtics on April 9 and missed Milwaukee’s final three regular-season games, including consecutive defeats in the last two games that allowed the Knicks to jump them for the No. 2 seed and potential home-court advantage in a playoff series between the clubs.

Last season, Antetokounmpo suffered a back injury in Game 1 of the first round against the Heat, and Milwaukee never recovered, falling in five games. He missed Games 2 and 3 of that series, but the Bucks lost Games 4 and 5 to drop the series.

Game 1 of the Pacers series is set for Sunday in Milwaukee, and the Bucks will need all the help they can get as Indiana beat them in four of five regular-season matchups.

The Pacers outscored the Bucks by 39 points with Antetokounmpo off the court, per NBA.com, and Milwaukee went 4-5 this season without its star player, according to the outlet.

Giannis Atetokounmpo is helped off the court on April 9.
Giannis Atetokounmpo is helped off the court on April 9. Getty Images

Antetokounmpo averaged 42.2 points, 13 points and 5.4 assists against the Pacers this year, though all five games came before the Pacers acquired Pascal Siakam.

For the season, Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 30.4 points, 11.4 rebounds and 6.5 assists while shooting 61.1 percent.

The winner of the Bucks-Pacers series will meet whichever team triumphs between the No. 2 vs. No. 7 series that will feature the Knicks against either the Heat or the 76ers.

Though Milwaukee started the year with championship aspirations after acquiring Damian Lillard, the team fired coach Adrian Griffin after a 30-13 start in January and replaced him with Doc Rivers.

Rivers oversaw a mediocre 19-19 finish.