Suddenly: Giannis Antetokounmpo’s concerning injury report is shared by Bucks head coach Doc Rivers.
When head coach Doc Rivers revealed on Sunday that star player Giannis Antetokounmpo would miss Game 1 of the Milwaukee Bucks’ first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, the team’s greatest fears came true.
The Bucks aren’t shocked by the news, but Rivers’ delivery of it raises questions about Antetokounmpo’s future. As he continues to recover from a left calf injury, Rivers told reporters on Sunday that he felt better, but he added that he didn’t “have a sense of when” he may play again.
It was believed that Antetokounmpo would miss the first game of the Pacers series as the postseason drew near. But the hope was that he would come back before it ended. However, things appear to be a little more erratic lately.
Shams Charania, an insider, revealed on Friday that Antetokounmpo might miss two to four weeks of play. Although he did leave the door open for a “superhuman” comeback sooner than anticipated, he stressed the injury’s seriousness and how quickly it may worsen if Antetokounmpo returned to the field too soon.
“The last thing the Bucks and Giannis would want is for him to get back and rushed onto the floor with a calf injury not being 100%,” Charania stated.
No matter when Antetokounpo makes a comeback, the Bucks will have to face playing without him. Milwaukee, though, appears up to the task with a veteran team that includes multiple NBA champs.
It won’t be “difficult” to find a way to win without the team’s undisputed leader, according to All-Star point guard Damian Lillard.
“I’ve never been on a better team than this one. Thus, we are able. We can win games,” Lillard said to The Athletic’s Eric Nehm. We’ll be much better if we have (Antetokounmpo) back. Thus, I believe that is how I am viewing things.”
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Without Giannis, Damian Lillard scores 35 points in the first half to lead the Bucks over the Pacers 109-94 in their playoff debut.
Milwaukee — In their Eastern Conference playoff opening on Sunday, the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Indiana Pacers 109-94 despite Giannis Antetokounmpo’s absence. Damian Lillard scored all 35 of his points before halftime.
Without Antetokounmpo, whose comeback date is questionable due to an injured left calf, which also prevented him from playing in Milwaukee’s final three regular-season games, the Bucks needed Lillard to step up.
As Antetokounmpo watched from the sidelines, Lillard made history by becoming the first player to score more points in either half of a playoff game for the Bucks.
The Pacers, who averaged a league-high 123.3 points per game and hadn’t scored fewer than 99 points in the regular season, were led by Pascal Siakam, who finished with 36 points and 13 rebounds. The Pacers made 8 of their 39 3-point attempts.
Indiana is playing in the playoffs for the first time since 2020 and hopes to get past the first round for the first time since 2014.
For the Bucks, Bobby Portis contributed 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Khris Middleton finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
In Milwaukee on Tuesday is game two.
With 19 points in the first quarter, Lillard set a record for the most points scored by a player in a playoff opening game since at least 1997. He scored more points in the first half of a postseason game than any other player has since Kevin Durant led the Golden State Warriors to 38 points at the half during a 2019 first-round matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers.
He then took a well-earned break and received some assistance from his teammates. Lillard was on the bench for almost the first five minutes of the second quarter as Milwaukee defeated Indiana 14-3.
Lillard resumed where he had left off after his return. He finished a four-point play and made a three-pointer while drawing a foul, pushing Milwaukee’s advantage to 65-35. The Bucks led 69–42 at the half.
After halftime, Lillard shot 0 for 5 and the Pacers made a game out of it in the second half. Indiana scored nine points in a row to cut Milwaukee’s lead to 83-71 at the end of the third quarter.
But from there, the Bucks took back the lead.
With 8:10 remaining, Jae Crowder and Malik Beasley each sank a 3-pointer to ignite an 8-0 run that increased Milwaukee’s advantage to 99-77. The remainder of the game, Milwaukee maintained a lead of at least 14.
