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Report: Bucks Should Be Prepared For Giannis Antetokounmpo To Miss More Time

Originally posted on Hoops Wire | By Sam Amico | Last updated 4/24/24

The Milwaukee Bucks may have to march on without star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo , who’s missed each of their first two playoff games against the Indiana Pacers with a calf injury.

His absence was undoubtedly noticed in Game 2, when the Pacers raced their way to a 125-108 win in Milwaukee. The series is tied at 1-all as it shifts to Indiana.

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, Antetokounmpo is likely not close to returning.

“I’m told (Antetokounmpo) has at least started to do some stationary jump shooting … But still not much cutting, no scrimmaging, no all-out running yet,” Charania said on FanDuel TV’s Run It Back. “I think the Bucks have to be prepared to keep playing on without Giannis.”

Bucks coach Doc Rivers also addressed Antetokounmpo’s status — but even that made it sound very much up in the air.

“Honestly, I don’t even go in there (the training room). I could literally not tell you one thing what any of those guys do,” Rivers said, via Jim Owczaski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I’ve learned, I just stay out of the training room. I don’t want to be in there because they may make me get on the table. You’ve seen me walk, right? I don’t know.

“But I know even that is active stuff. I will say that. I know he’s doing physical lifting and moving. But today — I think he’s been on the court four days in a row — I think today is the non-court day, is maybe a better way of saying that.”

The Bucks lost four of five to the Pacers in the regular season. NBA legends Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley of TNT’s Inside the NBA said Tuesday that the Bucks have no chance to win this series without Antetokounmpo — and from the looks of things early, they very well may be right.