The Milwaukee Bucks will face the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 without their two star players, Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, as they are both sidelined with injuries. Lillard aggravated an Achilles injury in Game 3 and is wearing a walking boot, while Antetokounmpo will miss his sixth consecutive game due to a calf strain.
Head coach Doc Rivers confirmed that both players would be out for the critical game on Sunday. This leaves the Bucks at a significant disadvantage, especially after losing a close Game 3 in overtime that gave the Pacers a 2-1 series lead. In the absence of Lillard and Antetokounmpo, the Bucks will rely on increased production from players like Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, and Brook Lopez.
Lillard, who averaged 24.3 points and seven assists in the regular season, had stepped up his performance in the playoffs with Antetokounmpo out. However, Milwaukee has struggled without Lillard on the floor, going 1-8 in regular season games he missed. Without their two best players on Sunday, the Bucks will have to find a way to compete against the Pacers by relying on their bench depth and solid team play.
It is unclear when Lillard or Antetokounmpo will be able to return to the court, but their absence could be a major blow to Milwaukee’s chances of winning this series. The Pacers have dominated so far with their strong defense and efficient offense led by All-Star guard Victor Oladipo Jr., who has been instrumental in their attacks.
The Bucks must find a way to win without their top two scorers if they hope to advance past Indiana and claim another NBA title this season. With no clear path forward at this point in time, it remains to be seen how they will respond under pressure on Sunday afternoon.
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