Dylan Buell/Getty ImagesMilwaukee Bucks stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard have been ruled out for Game 5 of the team's series against the Indiana Pacers, the team announced.
Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported early Tuesday that both were expected to be sidelined due to their injuries:
Run It Back @RunItBackFDTV"Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, are not expected to play tonight in the potential elimination game 5."<a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShamsCharania</a> updates on Damian and Giannis' injuries.<br><br>📺: <a href="https://t.co/oxMs3CAEGu">https://t.co/oxMs3CAEGu</a> <a href="https://t.co/BORXgf8ALa">pic.twitter.com/BORXgf8ALa</a>
Charania reported on Monday that there was "doubt" that Antetokounmpo would be able to return from his calf strain. The same went for Bucks point guard Damian Lillard, who is nursing an Achilles strain, putting the team in a dire situation as it faces a 3-1 series deficit.
Antetokounmpo suffered the injury on April 9 during a matchup against the Boston Celtics, forcing him to sit out the final three games of the regular season and the start of the series against the Pacers. Charania reported last week that the two-time MVP was "progressing in his recovery from a calf injury, doing some ball-handling drills and stationary jump shooting."
Being without Antetokounmpo has been a major blow to a Milwaukee team that entered the season with aspirations of competing for an NBA title. Losing Lillard, who also missed Game 4, put an even bigger dent in the team's chances of making it out of the first round.
The Bucks will need all hands on deck as they try to stay alive in Game 5. Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez will need to continue upping their production. Bobby Portis, who was ejected early in Game 4, will have to remain steady for Milwaukee to have a shot at making an improbable comeback.
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