Damian Lillard practiced absolutely however Giannis Antetokounmpo remained out of stay drills Friday because the Milwaukee Bucks continued preparing for Sunday’s playoff opener towards the Indiana Pacers.
Lillard is coping with a sore adductor that restricted him the final weekend of the common season, whereas Antetokounmpo missed the Bucks’ ultimate three regular-season video games with a strained left calf. Though Bucks president Peter Feigin instructed Milwaukee radio station WKLH that Antetokounmpo “positively won’t be again for Sunday,” coach Doc Rivers mentioned he is not able to rule the two-time MVP out for the beginning of the sequence.
“I do not know but,” Rivers mentioned Friday. “We’re nonetheless hoping. He hasn’t executed something. Would we throw him on the market? Yeah, we’d. For us, nonetheless we’re unsure.”
Rivers mentioned Antetokounmpo was within the fitness center Friday and did “walk-through stuff, however did not do something stay.” Antetokounmpo averaged 42.2 factors and 13 rebounds in Milwaukee’s 5 regular-season video games towards Indiana, together with a franchise single-game-record 64 factors within the Bucks’ lone victory over the Pacers.
Sources instructed ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Tuesday that the Bucks are hopeful remedy on Antetokounmpo’s left calf pressure will enable him to return someday later within the sequence. His probably absence for a minimum of the beginning of the sequence means the Bucks should lean extra closely on Lillard, who practiced absolutely Friday for the primary time this week.
“I felt stable,” Lillard mentioned afterward.
Lillard sat out a loss at Oklahoma Metropolis on April 12. He returned two days later, however shot simply 2-of-14 from the ground in a loss at Orlando. Lillard has been coping with an Achilles problem in addition to the sore adductor.
“It was good to get again into it,” Lillard mentioned. “Clearly it’ll take me that a lot time. I wanted at this time, after which tomorrow can be a greater day. Even when it isn’t stay, I am going to simply really feel higher after stepping into motion and be prepared for Sunday.”
Lillard is returning to the playoffs for the primary time since 2021, lacking out with the Portland Path Blazers the previous two years. The seven-time all-NBA guard hasn’t superior past the primary spherical of the playoffs since Portland reached the Western Convention finals in 2019.
“One factor I have been occupied with all week is I’ve gone my complete profession wanting a chance to win,” Lillard mentioned. “I at all times thought I had an opportunity to win, however being on this state of affairs, I maintain taking myself again to how I really feel once I acquired traded right here, realizing the chance that was in entrance of me. … I sort of refocus myself on that. The season is over and that is what we got here right here to have a chance to do, whether or not we’re wholesome or not, finally we can be. If our thoughts is correct, we will have each alternative to get one thing executed.”
In different damage information, Rivers mentioned reserve guard AJ Inexperienced was in a position take part in a lot of Friday’s apply. Inexperienced hadn’t practiced earlier this week and missed Milwaukee’s final two regular-season video games with a sprained left ankle.
Info from The Related Press was used on this report.
