Huge push for the Milwaukee Bucks! Giannis Antetokounmpo set to miss Game 1 vs. Indiana Pacers

Giannis Antetokounmpo has faced many tests this season especially as the Milwaukee Bucks only finished third in the Eastern Conference. It wasn’t the outcome most fans or pundits were hoping for, but based on roster and coaching changes, the Bucks were bound to face a few setbacks. However, an injury to Giannis was not in the cards when it happened on April 9 against the Boston Celtics.

With 3:37 left in the third quarter, the 2x MVP inbounded the ball to Damian Lillard and walked down the floor, suddenly grabbing his left calf. Eventually, the Bucks would waive him and Giannis made his way to the locker room. Although the Bucks would go on to win the following games against the Celtics and the Orlando Magic, they lost Giannis and their final two games of the season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is undergoing round-the-clock treatment

Based on how Giannis Antetokounmpo went down during the injury, the only sensible answer at the time was that he ruptured his Achilles. It would have kept Lillard off the court for the rest of the season to make the team. However, the box eventually revealed that it was a calf strain. They had to sit him out of the Bucks’ final three games of the season to make sure he was healthy enough to return to the playoffs.

ESPN source: The Milwaukee Bucks are preparing to be without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo for the start of their first-round series against the Indiana Pacers, but are hopeful that treatment for a left calf strain will allow him to return shortly after the series. pic.twitter.com/8p0wCiRSRl

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 16, 2024

Unfortunately, NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Bucks are preparing to play without Giannis for a few games during the first round of the playoffs. In his report, Wojnarowski also revealed that the 2022 NBA champion is undergoing round-the-clock treatment to speed up the rehabilitation process. However, the injury could not be recovered which did not clear him to work on the court.

The Pacers have won four of five games against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks this season

With Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined for their final three games of the season, the Bucks went 1-2. During their one game against the Magic, Bobby Portis played with the starting lineup and scored 30 points and Lillard recorded 29 points in the win. However, Lillard was sidelined against OKC and didn’t play very well in their last game against the Magic.

Now, that loss puts them in the third seed to match up against the Indiana Pacers. During the regular season, the Bucks and Pacers met five times (an in-season tournament game) and the latter won four times. Giannis had two of his best games against the Pacers this season, and one of those was a 64-point game. That game was the only time the Bucks won against the Pacers. Otherwise, Indiana managed to keep the rest of the team from scoring.