Bucks' Damian Lillard returning, Giannis uncertain for Game 6 vs. Pacers
02/05/2024 23:25
Milwaukee Bucks All-Star guard Damian Lillard is set to return from his two-game absence due to right Achilles tendinitis and he will play in Game 6 against the Pacers on Thursday, according to Turner Sports’ Chris Haynes. However, superstar big man Giannis Antetokounmpo remains listed as doubtful, and he is a true game-time decision.
Antetokounmpo has not played at all against the Pacers due to a calf strain he suffered near the end of the regular season. Lillard has missed two straight games as a result of Achilles tendinitis.
Prior to Game 6 on Thursday evening, head coach Doc Rivers spoke to reporters and was asked about the status of his two stars. Whereas Lillard was upgraded to questionable for this critical game, Antetokounmpo has not seen his injury status moved from doubtful. Rivers claimed that Giannis is “more doubtful” than Lillard, although both players were classified by Rivers as game-time decisions.
The Bucks currently trail the Pacers 3-2 heading into a pivotal Game 6 matchup in Indianapolis. The return of either LIllard or Giannis to the lineup would be essential for Milwaukee, as they look to keep their postseason hopes alive. In their absence, Khris Middleton has stepped up, scoring at least 25 points and recording at least 10 rebounds in three straight games.
While trailing 3-1 in Game 5 without Lillard and Antetokounmpo, the Bucks looked like a team that still has a lot of fight left in them. Milwaukee defeated Indiana 115-92, becoming the first team to ever win a playoff game with two of their top two scorers from the regular season out.
Middleton has bought the Bucks another day to live, which is why a return by either Giannis or Dame in Game 6 could change the trajectory of this series.
Will Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard play in Game 6?
At this time, the Bucks are playing the waiting game with their two stars based on the league’s official injury report. Dame is going to suit up and play, but Antetokounmpo’s status is still very much up in the air. They will both undergo treatment in the back leading up to the start of Game 6. A final decision on either player will not come until minutes before tip-off.
Even though reports continue to come out pointing towards the level of doubt surrounding Giannis and Lillard, Rivers told reporters on Tuesday night that he thinks both stars are close to getting back out on the floor.
“I don't know how to answer that. I know I hope,” Rivers said after Game 5 when asked about the availability of his two stars for Game 6 via Bally Sports Wisconsin. “I think they're very, very, very close.”
Game 6 on Thursday night is a must-win game for the Bucks if they are to keep their playoff and title hopes alive. A loss on the road to the Pacers would knock the Bucks out of the playoffs in the first round for the second straight season. They have not advanced past the Eastern Conference Semifinals since winning their championship in 2021.
A decision on the status of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard is not going to come until later on Thursday, as both players will look to work through their respective injuries before a final decision is made.
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