The Milwaukee Bucks are 16-14 on the season and looking to break their two-game losing streak when they take on the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday afternoon. Milwaukee’s most recent loss, a 116-111 heartbreaker to the Chicago Bulls, marked the return of eight-time All-Star Damian Lillard to the court for the first time since the Bucks won the NBA Cup Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Lillard missed Milwaukee’s next four games after that win with an illness. In his return, though not fully over what was plaguing him, he scored 29 points and dished out 12 assists.
However, that loss also marked the Bucks’ fourth straight game without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who also caught the sickness that has been going around the state.
Milwaukee Bucks Star Giannis Antetokounmpo Will Play vs the Indiana Pacers
Giannis is currently the NBA’s leading scorer, averaging 32.7 points per game. He also has per game averages of 11.6 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 0.7 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game.
Fortunately, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers revealed today that the Greek Freak will make his return to the court after missing the last four games with his illness:
Bucks coach Doc Rivers tells reporters that Giannis Antetokounmpo will play today vs. the Pacers. https://t.co/v81Noi5zBE
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) December 31, 2024
The Bucks are getting Giannis back at a good time. While it is still early in the season, Milwaukee has fallen to the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, but are just a half-game behind the Atlanta Hawks, who are 18-15.
Indiana, meanwhile, is 16-17 and currently the eighth seed in the East.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Has Had Success in Previous Matchups with the Indiana Pacers
Last season, the Bucks-Pacers rivalry was one of the fiercest in the NBA. Indiana defeated Milwaukee in the 2023 NBA Cup Semi-finals and knocked them out of the playoffs in the first round.
Of course, Giannis missed that postseason series with a series leg injury.
That being said, the two-time NBA MVP has experienced great success in his career against the Pacers, carrying career averages of 39.1 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 6.8 assists against them over the last two years (nine games).
The most noteworthy of these games, obviously, was their December 13, 2023 matchup when Giannis scored a franchise-record 64 points. The controversy surrounding the game ball afterwards is still one that many feel has not been resolved.
Indiana claims they gave him the ball back after taking it to their locker room, but Giannis has stated that it does not feel like the ball that they used during the game. The Pacers claimed they took it to give it to one of their own players who had scored his first NBA points that night.
More Milwaukee Bucks News from Wisconsin Sports Heroics
- Khris Middleton Status vs Indiana Pacers Revealed
- Milwaukee Bucks: Tuesday Injury Report Indicates Positive Status Change for Giannis
- Milwaukee Bucks: Damian Lillard’s Historic Feat Wasted in Loss to Bulls
- Doc Rivers Names Bulls Player that Dominated Bucks in Loss
- Doc Rivers Explains Why Damian Lillard Didn’t Attempt a Shot in Final 5 Minutes of Loss to Bulls
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