Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks will be sidelined for Friday evening’s Game 3 clash against the Indiana Pacers due to a left calf strain, while forward Khris Middleton is set to play despite an ankle injury sustained in Game 2 on Tuesday.
The Bucks have already navigated the first two matchups of this series without Antetokounmpo. As it stands, the Bucks and Pacers are deadlocked at 1-1 in the best-of-seven series.
Antetokounmpo has been absent from action since injuring his left calf during a triumph over the Boston Celtics on April 9. He sat out the Bucks’ final three regular-season contests.
The NBA’s injury update on Thursday afternoon categorized Antetokounmpo as doubtful and Middleton as active for Friday’s matchup.
In Game 2’s 125-108 defeat, Middleton endured a first-quarter hobble and briefly retreated to the locker room. However, after a re-taping of his right ankle, he returned to play 36 minutes. Despite the setback, the three-time All-Star has maintained an impressive average of 19.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists over the initial two games.
Throughout the season, the Bucks have grappled with the absence of key players. Among their last 35 games, the trio of Antetokounmpo, Middleton, and Damian Lillard were simultaneously available for just five matchups. This span encompasses the last 33 regular-season contests and the opening pair of games in this series.
The Bucks have grown accustomed to navigating injuries during postseason play.
In 2020, Antetokounmpo missed the final 1½ games of a second-round playoff loss to Miami due to a sprained ankle. Similarly, he sat out the concluding two games of the 2021 Eastern Conference finals with a hyperextended knee before making a triumphant return to lead Milwaukee to the championship, clinching the NBA Finals MVP with a monumental 50-point performance.
Middleton’s playoff contributions were hindered in 2022 as he missed the Bucks’ last 10 postseason games with a sprained medial collateral ligament.
In 2023, Antetokounmpo’s absence from Game 1 due to a bruised lower back extended to the subsequent two games in the Bucks’ first-round playoff defeat against Miami.
This report contains information from The Associated Press.
