Milwaukee is taking the floor in Indianapolis on Friday night without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was ruled out for the sixth consecutive game with a strained left calf.
Antetokounmpo was ruled out Friday at shootaround with Khris Middleton (right ankle) questionable.
The Bucks, the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, and sixth-seeded Pacers are tied 1-1 in the best-of-seven first-round series with Game 3 on Friday night.
Middleton scored 23 points in Game 1 and had 15 points and six assists in Game 2. He was listed Thursday as doubtful for Game 3, but head coach Doc Rivers said the former All-Star was able to do light work on Friday.
Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday night in Indianapolis before the series shifts back to Milwaukee for Game 5 on Tuesday (April 30).
Antetokounmpo was sidelined for the final three games of the regular season after the two-time MVP exited the April 9 win over the Boston Celtics.
The Pacers dominated the regular-season series with the Bucks, going 4-1. In Milwaukee’s lone win this season over Indiana on Dec. 13, Antetokounmpo scored 64 points with 14 rebounds and four steals to carry the Bucks to a 140-126 victory.
Antetokounmpo, 29, played in 73 regular-season games and the eight-time All-Star averaged 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists on a career-best 61.1 percent shooting from the field.
–Field Level Media
