It will be an uphill battle for the Milwaukee Bucks as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard have been officially ruled out for a Game 5 elimination match against the Indiana Pacers, head coach Doc Rivers told the media on Tuesday.
The Bucks are currently down 3-1 in their first-round series against the Pacers. There wasn't much optimism either of their stars could be available for the win-or-go-home outing, as both were listed as doubtful ahead of the game.
Antetokounmpo is currently nursing a left soleus (calf) strain and has missed every game this series. He suffered the injury late in the regular season and missed the team's last three games.
Lillard, meanwhile, suffered his injury late in the Game 3 overtime loss on April 26, hurting his Achilles in the final minutes of regulation.
Rivers said after the game that Lillard said he lacked his typical explosiveness late in the game. Lillard had a protective walking boot covering his right foot while walking through the team hotel on Saturday.
Without either of them in Game 4, the Bucks lost 126-113 to the Pacers on Sunday, pushing them to the brink of elimination.
Game 5 will tip off at 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT on Tuesday night.
-- With files from the Associated Press
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