Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard’s Potential Return for Game 6
If Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard both suit up for the Bucks in their must-win Game 5, it would be the first time that the All-Star duo will take the court together in nearly a month.
Possible Lineup Changes
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard might be improving but Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers might not have the two stars in the starting lineup for Game 6 of the best-of-seven series with the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night, May 2 (Friday, May 3, Manila time). Rivers said Tuesday night his injured All-Star tandem was “very, very, very close” to being available and would work out Wednesday. But the team listed both players as doubtful on Wednesday afternoon. Antetokounmpo (left calf) has missed the entire series and Lillard (right Achilles) had missed the past two games.
Series Standings and Previous Games
Milwaukee beat the Pacers, 115-92, in Game 5 to force another must-win situation Thursday night in Indianapolis. The Pacers own a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference first-round series. Without the All-Stars in the lineup for Game 5, Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis scored 29 points apiece to push the series back to Indiana.
Injuries and Game Impact
Antetokounmpo injured his calf in an April 9 victory against the Boston Celtics, when a postgame MRI exam revealed a strained muscle. Lillard strained his Achilles in a 121-118 overtime loss in Game 3 and said he sprained his knee – but returned – in the first half of that game. Lillard said he “couldn’t move” before Game 4.
Player Reactions and Team Strategy
Myles Turner said the Pacers might have missed an opportunity on Tuesday with the Bucks talking about the potential return of their superstars. Head coach Rick Carlisle reminded his players that the ball is still in their court. “I don’t think we were playing with the kind of intensity we needed to even when we had the lead,” Carlisle said. “We paid the price for it.”