MILWAUKEE (AP) 鈥� The Milwaukee Bucks face the possibility of continuing their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers on Friday without two of their top three players.
Khris Middleton has a sprained right ankle that kept him from practicing Thursday and puts his status in question for in Indianapolis. The Bucks already played the first two games of this series without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has a left calf strain.
鈥淚t鈥檚 another holding-our-breath situation,鈥� Bucks coach Doc Rivers said about Middleton's availability for Friday. 鈥淗onestly, I don鈥檛 know.鈥�
The NBA's injury report Thursday afternoon listed Antetokounmpo as doubtful and Middleton as questionable for Friday's game. The Bucks and Pacers are tied 1-1 in the best-of-seven series.
Middleton was limping in the first quarter of the on Tuesday and briefly went into the locker room, but he returned after getting his right ankle re-taped and ended up playing 36 minutes. The three-time All-Star has averaged 19 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists through the first two games.
Antetokounmpo hasn't played since in an over the Boston Celtics. He missed the Bucks' final three regular-season games.
鈥淗e did a lot of floor stuff today, probably the most I鈥檝e seen,鈥� Rivers said. 鈥淣othing live. He was shooting and moving today.鈥�
While speaking after the Bucks' Thursday practice in Milwaukee, Rivers didn't want to speculate on when Antetokounmpo could return.
鈥淚 saw him moving around and my mindset is he's getting close,鈥� Rivers said. 鈥淒oes that mean a day, four days? I'm not sure.鈥�
The Bucks have played without key performers on numerous occasions this year. The Bucks had their top three players 鈥� Antetokounmpo, Middleton and Damian Lillard 鈥� all available for only five of their last 35 games. That 35-game stretch covers Milwaukee's last 33 regular-season contests and the first two games of this series.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had games like that this season,鈥� Bucks center Brook Lopez said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e prepared for it. We鈥檝e seen everything. Obviously we鈥檇 prefer to have them play. But if they can鈥檛, if they have to do whatever they have to do to be healthy, stay healthy, we鈥檒l be ready.鈥�
The Bucks have become accustomed to dealing with injuries during the postseason.
Antetokounmpo missed the final 1 1/2 games of a 2020 with a sprained ankle. He didn't play the final two games of the 2021 East finals with a before returning to as the NBA Finals MVP who scored 50 points in the title-clinching victory.
Middleton missed the Bucks鈥� in 2022 with a sprained medial collateral ligament. Last year, a knocked Antetokounmpo out of and caused him to miss the next two games in the Bucks鈥� to Miami.
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AP NBA:
Steve Megargee, The Associated Press
