The Milwaukee Bucks have listed both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard as doubtful on the NBA's official injury report for Game 5 against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday. Antetokounmpo has not played since injuring his calf in the final week of the regular season against the Boston Celtics. Lillard suffered an Achilles injury in Game 3 of this series and sat out Game 4.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Antetokounmpo just began running again over the weekend and Lillard is out of his walking boot, but still not ready to play.
There is doubt that Bucks All-Stars Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf strain) and Damian Lillard (Achilles tendon strain) will be able to play in potential elimination Game 5 vs. Pacers on Tuesday down 3-1, sources say. Both have tricky strains that complicate returns and create risk. pic.twitter.com/O235igT1D7
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 29, 2024
The Bucks should have swingman Khris Middleton available after appearing to tweak an ankle in Game 4. He's listed as probable for Game 5. With their two best players out, and Bobby Portis in the locker room after being ejected from Game 4, Bucks head coach had to dig deep into his bench. Role players AJ Green and Andre Jackson Jr. doubled their season average in minutes Sunday because the Bucks were running out of players.
The Pacers are 4.5-point favorites on the road in Game 5 and BetMGM has Indy listed at -1600 to win the series entering tonight's matchup. The Pacers are +180 to win the series in six games in front of their home crowd, and +900 to win the series in seven games if the Bucks can extend it that far.
