The Milwaukee Bucks could receive reinforcements as they attempt to save their season Thursday night.
According to TNT insider Chris Haynes, Damian Lillard is expected to play an elimination Game 6 against the Indiana Pacers. The All-Star point guard has missed the last two games of the first-round series with an Achilles injury.
However, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said the Bucks ruled out Giannis Antetokounmpo. He reported earlier Thursday that the Bucks felt “more hope than optimism” of getting both stars back for Game 6.
Per ESPN’s Jamal Collier, head coach Doc Rivers called Giannis “more doubtful” than Lillard when labeling both as game-time decisions on Thursday.
Without Antetokounmpo, who has sat out the entire series with a calf injury, Lillard averaged 32.3 points and 5.3 assists in the first three games. Milwaukee dropped two of those matchups, including an overtime Game 3 loss in which Lillard played 45 minutes.
After falling into a 3-1 hole, the Bucks stayed alive with a 115-92 victory on Tuesday behind 29 points each from Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis. Patrick Beverley dished out 12 assists, and Malik Beasley made four three-pointers.
Milwaukee still must win two straight games to avoid its second consecutive opening-loss exit. The Bucks, who went 18-22 away from Fiserv Forum during the regular season, must force a winner-take-all Game 7 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Milwaukee’s must-win Game 6 starts at 6:30 p.m. ET on TNT.