Giannis Antetokounmpo was sidelined for Game 2 of the Milwaukee Bucks’ Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers due to a lingering left calf strain. This marks his second consecutive missed game, as he also sat out Game 1 and the Bucks’ final three regular-season games. Bucks coach Doc Rivers mentioned that the star forward is “getting closer” to a return, but his status for Game 3 in Indianapolis on Friday remains uncertain.
The injury occurred during an April 9 game against the Boston Celtics when Antetokounmpo experienced discomfort in his left calf while running up the court. An MRI revealed a muscle strain, keeping him out of action since then. In his absence, the Bucks are 6-5, including a Game 1 win over the Pacers where Damian Lillard stepped up with a 35-point performance in the first half.
Antetokounmpo has a history of injuries in the postseason, including a sprained ankle that caused him to miss games in the 2020 second-round series against Miami and a hyperextended knee that sidelined him during the 2021 Eastern Conference finals. Despite these setbacks, he returned to lead the Bucks to their first championship in 50 years and was named Finals MVP with a standout 50-point performance in a Game 6 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Last year, he also missed games in the Bucks’ first-round loss to Miami due to a bruised lower back.