The postseason is getting even worse for the Milwaukee Bucks.
According to Shams Charania of The AthleticThe Bucks have Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo questionable to play in Tuesday’s Game 5 against the Indiana Pacers.
Antetokounmpo suffered a calf injury late in the regular season that sidelined him for the entire postseason. Lillard missed Sunday’s Game 4 loss due to an Achilles tendon injury that worsened in Game 3. Both face the risk of further injury while playing.
This status update means the Bucks are preparing to play an elimination game without their two best players. Indiana University takes a 3-1 lead in the series with its Game 4 victory, and the Pacers will clinch the series victory with a win in Milwaukee on Tuesday.
The Bucks have remained competitive despite the continued absence of Antetokounmpo, the two-time league MVP and 2021 Finals MVP. They won Game 1 and forced overtime in Game 3, but lost on Tyrese Haliburton’s game-winning goal in the last minute. Before the injury, Lillard averaged 24.3 points per game in the regular season, which increased to 32.3 points per game from Games 1-3.
In Game 4, without Lillard, Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis (who was ejected in the first quarter), the Pacers won 126-113 and the Bucks were on the verge of elimination. Even if they win on Tuesday, the Bucks will face the prospect of losing two more games as questions remain about the future availability of either Lillard or Antetokounmpo.
