Khris Middleton joins Giannis Antetokounmpo on Bucks' harm checklist earlier than Sport 3 – NBA.com

'It's one other holding-our-breath state of affairs,' Bucks coach Doc Rivers stated about Middleton's availability. 'Actually, I don't know.'
Steve Megargee | The Related Press
Khris Middleton injured his proper ankle throughout the 1st quarter of Sport 2 vs. Indiana.
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MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Bucks face the opportunity of persevering with their Jap Convention first-round playoff sequence towards the Indiana Pacers on Friday with out two of their high three gamers.
Khris Middleton is listed as questionable for Sport 3 in Indianapolis (5:30 ET, ESPN). He has a sprained ankle that saved him from practising with the staff on Thursday.
The Bucks already performed the primary two video games of this sequence with out two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has a left calf pressure. Antetokounmpo is listed as out for Sport 3.
“It’s one other holding-our-breath state of affairs,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers stated about Middleton’s availability for Friday. “Actually, I don’t know.”
The Bucks and Pacers are tied 1-1 within the best-of-seven sequence.
Middleton was limping within the first quarter of the Bucks’ 125-108 Game 2 loss on Tuesday and briefly went into the locker room, however he returned after getting his proper ankle re-taped and ended up enjoying 36 minutes. The three-time All-Star has averaged 19 factors, 7.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists via the primary two video games.
Antetokounmpo hasn’t performed since straining his left calf in an April 9 victory over the Boston Celtics. He missed the Bucks’ remaining three regular-season video games.
“He did plenty of ground stuff right now, in all probability probably the most I’ve seen,” Rivers stated. “Nothing dwell. He was capturing and shifting right now.”
Whereas talking after the Bucks’ Thursday observe in Milwaukee, Rivers didn’t need to speculate on when Antetokounmpo might return.
“I noticed him shifting round and my mindset is he’s getting shut,” Rivers stated. “Does that imply a day, 4 days? I’m undecided.”
The Bucks have performed with out key performers on quite a few events this yr. The Bucks had their high three gamers — Antetokounmpo, Middleton and Damian Lillard — all out there for under 5 of their final 35 video games. That 35-game stretch covers Milwaukee’s final 33 regular-season contests and the primary two video games of this sequence.
“We’ve had video games like that this season,” Bucks heart Brook Lopez stated. “We’re ready for it. We’ve seen every thing. Clearly, we’d desire to have them play. But when they’ll’t, in the event that they must do no matter they must do to be wholesome, keep wholesome, we’ll be prepared.”
The Bucks have change into accustomed to coping with accidents throughout the postseason.
Antetokounmpo missed the ultimate 1½ video games of a 2020 second-round loss to Miami with a sprained ankle. He didn’t play the ultimate two video games of the 2021 East finals with a hyperextended knee earlier than returning to steer Milwaukee to the championship because the NBA Finals MVP who scored 50 factors within the title-clinching victory.
Middleton missed the Bucks’ remaining 10 playoff video games in 2022 with a sprained medial collateral ligament. Final yr, a bruised decrease again knocked Antetokounmpo out of Sport 1 and brought about him to overlook the following two video games within the Bucks’ first-round loss to Miami.
Data from The Related Press was used on this report.
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