The Athletic’s Eric Nehm reports that Giannis Antetokounmpo is still listed as questionable with a non-Covid illness on the Milwaukee Bucks‘ initial injury report for Tuesday against the Indiana Pacers. The same illness has held him out of the past two games. Also dealing with a back injury, he has now reached four absences in a row.
Here is Nehm’s tweet from earlier today:
The Bucks have submitted their first injury report for Tuesday in Indiana.
Out:
AJ Johnson, Chris Livingston, Tyler Smith (G League)Questionable:
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Non-Covid Illness)Probable:
AJ Green (Right Calf Contusion)
Khris Middleton (Bilateral Ankle Surgery)
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) December 30, 2024
But there is good news for Bucks fans. According to an update from Sports Illustrated, the star is back in practice on Monday. The article indicates that he should indeed play and that head coach Doc Rivers does not plan on restricting his minutes.
Giannis also bore a questionable tag in the injury report Saturday against the Bulls before being ruled out, but based on available information it does look like Rivers will have his two stars on the court together for the first time since the NBA Cup championship game.
Opportunity for Full-Strength Bucks Against Tired Pacers Team
Indiana is coming off an upset of the Boston Celtics on the road as +400 moneyline underdogs. It was a team effort for the Pacers, with all starters in double figures led by Tyrese Haliburton’s 31. Having Giannis back will be important to defend against the length and playmaking of power forward Pascal Siakam (19.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 3.4 APG). His size and agility will also help Milwaukee contain rangy center Miles Turner (14.9 PPG, 39.2% 3PT) in switches.
And, obviously, the Bucks can’t wait to re-insert him as the center of the offense. Before his string of DNPs, he was producing yet another MVP-caliber statline: 32.7/11.6/6.0 on 61.3% from the field. Nikola Jokic remains the clear-cut favorite, but health is the only obstacle that will prevent Giannis from giving the three-time winner a run for his money.
The game against Indiana will be the Bucks’ sixth in 11 days, but the 16-17 Pacers will have played the same number with two fewer days’ rest. Moreover, they have had their share of tough competition, fresh off two with Boston and one with the Thunder. Their two “easy” games in that time frame have come against the Kings and Warriors.
Milwaukee, on the other hand, played conference-leading Cleveland (27-4) on December 20, but since then have faced opponents a combined 27 games below five hundred: Chicago twice, plus the Nets and Wizards.
But Lillard and Giannis appeared, separately, in only one game apiece, and the team went 2-3 and is 16-14 overall. Indiana has gone 7-3 since a slow start.
Hopefully for the Bucks, reuniting their star duo gives them the edge against a team hungover from upsetting a rival after a difficult stretch of schedule.
Projecting Bucks-Pacers Tuesday Lineups
It makes sense to anticipate Giannis on the court, but it is also true that NBA lineups are known for late–very late–scratches. In addition to further media updates, the line listed by sportsbooks when the betting market opens for Tuesday’s games should imply a current consensus on Antetokounmpo’s status.
Of course, fans and bettors should await updated reports as the day progresses to get a clearer picture.
The last time the teams played, on November 22, Giannis engineered a 37-point triple-double for a 129-117 victory and the Bucks covered the -5.5 point spread. The Pacers were without guard Andrew Nembhard, while Khris Middleton took a seat for Milwaukee.
On Tuesday’s injury report, Middleton (ankle) and AJ Green are listed on Tuesday’s injury report as probable. The Pacers’ reserve Obi Toppin is questionable with an ankle injury and missed both games against Boston. As of now, both starting lineups are projected to be full-strength at tip-off.
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