The Milwaukee Bucks, the third-seeded team in the Eastern Conference, are “preparing to be without their megawatt star Giannis Antetokounmpo as the playoffs begin. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the calf injury Antetokounmpo suffered during the last handful games for the Bucks haven’t healed enough for him to play, but there’s a chance he could return sometime in the first round.
ESPN Sources: The Milwaukee Bucks are preparing to be without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo for their opening-round series against the Indiana Pacers, but are hopeful that treatment for his left calf injury will allow him to return some time later in the series . pic.twitter.com/8p0wCiRSRl
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 16, 2024
Antetokounmpo injured his calf during the Bucks’ April 9 win over the Boston Celtics. He left the game in the third quarter after an awkward, non-contact landing on his leg. He could barely jog and staggered clumsily to the locker room. The Bucks ruled him out almost immediately.
With a non-contact injury, people typically expect the worst, so hearing that Giannis was only dealing with a calf injury was positive, but not as positive as him avoiding an injury altogether. The Bucks announced on April 10 that Giannis would miss the team’s three final regular season games as he rehabs, meaning there was no guarantee he would be ready for the start of the playoffs.
The Bucks needed to win those final three games (two against the Orlando Magic and one against the Oklahoma City Thunder) to prevent the ankle-biting New York Knicks from stealing the No. 2 seed from them. Unfortunately, Milwaukee couldn’t capitalize, losing two of three and falling to No. 3.
Giannis won’t be on the floor (he’s receiving around-the-clock treatment on his calf, according to Woj), but the Bucks still have a playoff series to win. They kick off the first round Saturday with Game 1 against the sixth-seeded Indiana Pacers.
