Antetokounmpo’s injury casts shadow over Bucks’ first-round series with Pacers

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks are dealing with injuries to key players during the playoffs — again. And Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers are standing in their way.

Milwaukee lost four of five regular-season games against Indiana, though they haven’t met in the last 3½ months. The Bucks likely won’t have Giannis Antetokounmpo for the start of their first-round playoff series because of a strained left calf.

The 29-year-old Antetokounmpo was listed as doubtful for Sunday’s Game 1 on an injury report that came out Saturday. Antetokounmpo averaged 42.2 points and 13 rebounds against Indiana this season, including a franchise-record 64 points in the Bucks’ lone victory over the Pacers.

“I think the good part about it is it’s not something that’s unfamiliar,” said Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard, who will play in Game 1 despite battling a sore adductor and an Achilles tendon issue the final weekend of the regular season. “We’ve had our stretches of games where we’ve been short-handed, and we kind of know what it’s going to look like for us out there.”

Indeed, the Bucks had their top three players – Antetokounmpo, Lillard and Khris Middleton – all available for only five of their last 33 regular-season games. That helps explain why the Bucks went 17-19 under coach Doc Rivers after going 32-14 before his arrival.

Indeed, the Bucks had their top three players – Antetokounmpo, Lillard and Khris Middleton – all available for only five of their last 33 regular-season games. That helps explain why the Bucks went 17-19 under coach Doc Rivers after going 32-14 before his arrival.

Indiana is in the playoffs for the first time since 2020 and attempting to advance beyond the first round for the first time since 2014. Even though the Pacers are seeded sixth and the Bucks third in the East, Indiana is a slight favorite, according to BetMGM.

“I’m really thankful to be here,” said Haliburton, who averaged a league-leading 10.9 assists per game this season. “Usually at this point, I’m getting my exit meetings and talking to you guys, a news conference to get ready for my vacation. So I’m just excited to be playing basketball. My plan is to keep playing for the next couple of months.”

LONG TIME, NO SEE

The Bucks and Pacers last faced each other on Jan. 3. Both teams have changed quite a bit since.

Since their last matchup, Indiana has acquired two-time All-Star Pascal Siakam, traded Bruce Brown and Buddy Hield and lost Bennedict Mathurin to a season-ending injury. Milwaukee fired coach Adrian Griffin, hired Rivers and acquired guard Pat Beverley.

“We’re kind of two new teams playing against each other,” Middleton said.

HALIBURTON’S HOMECOMING

Haliburton is making his playoff debut close to home. Haliburton grew up in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, about 90 miles northwest of Milwaukee.

Indiana is in the playoffs for the first time since 2020 and attempting to advance beyond the first round for the first time since 2014. Even though the Pacers are seeded sixth and the Bucks third in the East, Indiana is a slight favorite, according to BetMGM.

“I’m really thankful to be here,” said Haliburton, who averaged a league-leading 10.9 assists per game this season. “Usually at this point, I’m getting my exit meetings and talking to you guys, a news conference to get ready for my vacation. So I’m just excited to be playing basketball. My plan is to keep playing for the next couple of months.”

LONG TIME, NO SEE

The Bucks and Pacers last faced each other on Jan. 3. Both teams have changed quite a bit since.

Since their last matchup, Indiana has acquired two-time All-Star Pascal Siakam, traded Bruce Brown and Buddy Hield and lost Bennedict Mathurin to a season-ending injury. Milwaukee fired coach Adrian Griffin, hired Rivers and acquired guard Pat Beverley.

“We’re kind of two new teams playing against each other,” Middleton said.

HALIBURTON’S HOMECOMING

Haliburton is making his playoff debut close to home. Haliburton grew up in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, about 90 miles northwest of Milwaukee.

The Bucks prepared for this series by having their scout team play as fast a pace as possible.

“If we score a bucket when we’re playing, they’re taking the ball out of the basket and not even inbounding,” Bucks center Brook Lopez said. “They’re just going. That’s not something we’ve done before with a scout team in preparation for a playoff series.”

BUDDING RIVALRY?

Haliburton mimicked Lillard’s “Dame Time” celebration by pointing to his wrist during Indiana’s In-Season Tournament win over the Bucks. Antetokounmpo’s 64-point performance against the Pacers included a postgame confrontation regarding the whereabouts of the game ball.

Those events provide plenty of interesting angles heading into this series.

“Obviously the storyline still is popcorn-driven,” Bucks forward Bobby Portis said. “You can smell it.”

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This story has been corrected to show that Tyrese Haliburton averaged 27 points and 11 assists against the Bucks in the regular season.