Bucks’ Damian Lillard (Achilles), Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) ruled out for Game 4

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Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard was dominated out for Sport 4 of their playoff collection towards the Indiana Pacers as a result of an Achilles damage, the staff introduced Sunday. All-Star ahead Giannis Antetokounmpo additionally sat out the 126-113 loss with a calf damage, whereas Bobby Portis was ejected within the first quarter after an altercation with Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard.

The slew of absences left the Bucks severely undermanned as they face a 3-1 collection deficit and first-round elimination.

Sport 5 is Tuesday in Milwaukee (9:30 ET, TNT). Each might miss that sport, too.

Lillard joined the damage listing following Friday night time’s 121-118 additional time loss in Sport 3. He twisted his left knee within the first quarter, went to the locker room after which injured his Achilles tendon within the waning minutes of regulation. He completed the sport with 28 factors and eight assists however solely scored two factors, each on free throws, within the remaining 10 minutes of motion.

Bucks coach Doc Rivers mentioned after Sport 3 that Lillard mentioned he lacked his typical explosiveness late within the sport. Lillard had a protecting strolling boot masking his proper foot whereas strolling by way of the staff lodge on Saturday.

Antetokounmpo hasn’t performed since straining his left calf on April 9. Rivers mentioned Saturday that he “doubted” the two-time league MVP can be cleared to play.

The Bucks did get some promising information Saturday.

Rivers mentioned Khris Middleton — who completed with a playoff-career excessive 42 factors in Sport 3 — seemed to be feeling nicely after taking part in 41 minutes on the sprained proper ankle that saved him out of Thursday’s apply.

Middleton completed with 25 factors, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in Sport 4 regardless of taking part in with a sprained proper ankle and 4 fouls for a lot of the second half.

A part of the issue in Sport 4 was Milwaukee’s depth, which might show tough once more Tuesday night time.

Middleton harm his left ankle throughout the second half and backup guard Pat Connaughton additionally injured his ribs. Portis was ejected with 5:01 left within the first quarter after he and Andrew Nembhard had been concerned in a shoving match. Portis drew two technical fouls on the play, a part of a six-technical first half.

“It was a tricky break for us, there’s little question about it,” Rivers mentioned when requested about Portis’ early departure. “Playoff video games are excessive emotion, they are surely and in order that occurred. You’ll be able to’t get it again as soon as it occurred.”

Coping with postseason accidents is nothing new for the Bucks.

A sprained ankle saved Antetokounmpo out of the ultimate 1 1/2 video games of a 2020 Japanese Convention Semifinals loss to Miami. He additionally missed the ultimate two video games of the 2021 Japanese Convention Finals with a hyperextended knee. Antetokounmpo returned towards Phoenix and was named the NBA Finals MVP after scoring 50 factors in a title-clinching Sport 6 victory.

Middleton missed the Bucks’ final 10 playoff video games in 2022 with a sprained medial collateral ligament, and Antetokounmpo left Sport 1 of final 12 months’s first-round loss to Miami with a bruised decrease again that additionally saved him out of Video games 2 and three.

Info from The Related Press was used on this report.