First set of pre-game injury reports shine a little light on the Bucks bill of health
Coming on a little over 24 hours before an oddly-specific 4:30 (Central) tip-off time in game three of the Milwaukee Bucks-Indiana Pacers series, much understandably hinges on the health status of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. The league’s first batch of injury reports that included Friday’s games are out, and the news isn’t exactly positive:
The Bucks have submitted their injury report for Game 3 in Indianapolis:
Doubtful
Giannis Antetokounmpo (left soleus strain)
Chris Livingston (illness)Questionable
Khris Middleton (right ankle sprain)— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) April 25, 2024
Some more details (via Eric Nehm) on how the status of each and how they did in practice today:
What was Giannis Antetokounmpo able to do today?
Doc Rivers: “Yeah, he did a lot of floor stuff today. Probably the most I’ve seen.”Just walking/jogging?
Rivers: “He was shooting and moving today.”Rivers also mentioned that Antetokounmpo was unable to do anything live though.
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) April 25, 2024
Bucks coach Doc Rivers told reporters that Khris Middleton (right ankle sprain) did not practice today.
He sprained his ankle in the 1st quarter and then played 36 minutes.
Asked if there was concern about him being able to play in Game 3, Rivers said, “Yeah, there’s a little.”
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) April 25, 2024
As far as Giannis is concerned, the report that he was restricted to a bit of movement and shooting isn’t all that surprising given that’s where he was a few days ago leading up to game two. While the timeline for recovery remains vague, it would have been surprising if he had gone from very limited practice routines to fully-fledged starter in under 72 hours.
The real red flag is the news about Middleton, although again it is hard to tell whether Doc Rivers’s statement about concerns if Middleton can even go fall within the realm of his conjecture, gamesmanship, or something else. As a reminder, Middleton rolled his ankle at the close of the first quarter in game two having accidentally stepped on Pascal Siakam’s foot while bringing the ball up the court. He briefly left that game before returning in the second quarter and participating the rest of the way.
Middleton has averaged 35.5 minutes, 19.0 points (.536/.286/1.00), 7.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in the brief series so far with his most important stretches of play coming in game one to help make Milwaukee’s early lead unassailable in that tilt. If he truly cannot go that is a huge blow to an already playmaking-strapped rotation.
We’ll keep an eye out for more updates as game three approaches. Here’s wishing both guys continued speedy recoveries.