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The Milwaukee Bucks are neck-and-neck with the Indiana Pacers in a tussle to secure the No. 4 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference – and with it home court advantage over the No. 5 seed in the first round of the postseason.
Milwaukee (37-28) can win the season series over Indiana (36-28) with a win tonight and give itself a tiebreaker for a better playoff position should the teams finish with the same record. The next tiebreaker is division record, which the Bucks trail the Pacers by two games.
The two teams were in this position last year, as the Bucks captured the fourth spot only to be upset by the Pacers. The Bucks were without Giannis Antetokounmpo for the entire series and Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton played through injuries, and the Pacers eventually advanced to the conference finals.
Saturday is the first game of a home-and-home back-to-back for the Bucks, who host the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder at 8 p.m. in a nationally televised game.
More: With near-perfect shooting and intimidating defense, Brook Lopez delivers in the Bucks’ win over the Lakers
Pacers all-star point guard Tyrese Haliburton first taunted the Bucks by mimicking Damian Lillard’s signature “Dame Time” wrist tap when Haliburton hit a big shot during the NBA Cup semifinals to eliminate the Bucks last season in Las Vegas.
The Bucks won the first two games of the season series this season, but Haliburton looked at his wrist again on Tuesday when he hit a falling-down three-pointer over Giannis Antetokounmpo, leading to a four-point play and victory over the Bucks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday.
It was the latest chapter in a burgeoning novel between the two teams, which has included multiple technical fouls, ejections and Antetokounmpo chasing the Pacers to their locker room on Dec. 13, 2023.
The Bucks’ superstar is probable top play. He has been on a minute restriction since coming back from a left calf strain after the all-star break, but he has yet to miss a game. That includes playing in three previous sets of back-to-back games.
More: Olympic Games helped put Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on MVP paths
The game tips off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast locally on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin with Lisa Byington, Steve Novak and Melanie Ricks on the call.
Milwaukee is a 5.5-point favorite over Indiana, and the over-under is set at 235.5 per BetMGM.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bucks injury report: Is Giannis playing tonight vs. Pacers?
Continue reading...
Milwaukee (37-28) can win the season series over Indiana (36-28) with a win tonight and give itself a tiebreaker for a better playoff position should the teams finish with the same record. The next tiebreaker is division record, which the Bucks trail the Pacers by two games.
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The two teams were in this position last year, as the Bucks captured the fourth spot only to be upset by the Pacers. The Bucks were without Giannis Antetokounmpo for the entire series and Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton played through injuries, and the Pacers eventually advanced to the conference finals.
Saturday is the first game of a home-and-home back-to-back for the Bucks, who host the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder at 8 p.m. in a nationally televised game.
More: With near-perfect shooting and intimidating defense, Brook Lopez delivers in the Bucks’ win over the Lakers
Oshkosh’s Tyrese Haliburton continues to taunt Bucks
Pacers all-star point guard Tyrese Haliburton first taunted the Bucks by mimicking Damian Lillard’s signature “Dame Time” wrist tap when Haliburton hit a big shot during the NBA Cup semifinals to eliminate the Bucks last season in Las Vegas.
The Bucks won the first two games of the season series this season, but Haliburton looked at his wrist again on Tuesday when he hit a falling-down three-pointer over Giannis Antetokounmpo, leading to a four-point play and victory over the Bucks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday.
It was the latest chapter in a burgeoning novel between the two teams, which has included multiple technical fouls, ejections and Antetokounmpo chasing the Pacers to their locker room on Dec. 13, 2023.
Is Giannis playing?
The Bucks’ superstar is probable top play. He has been on a minute restriction since coming back from a left calf strain after the all-star break, but he has yet to miss a game. That includes playing in three previous sets of back-to-back games.
Bucks injury report
- Bobby Portis Jr., out (league suspension)
- Tyler Smith, questionable (back spasms)
- Kevin Porter Jr., probable (left ankle sprain)
- Damian Lillard, probable (right groin soreness)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, probable (left calf strain)
Bucks probable starting lineup
- Guards: Damian Lillard, Taurean Prince
- Forwards: Kyle Kuzma, Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Center: Brook Lopez
More: Olympic Games helped put Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on MVP paths
What channel are the Bucks on?
The game tips off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast locally on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin with Lisa Byington, Steve Novak and Melanie Ricks on the call.
Bucks vs. Pacers odds, over/under
Milwaukee is a 5.5-point favorite over Indiana, and the over-under is set at 235.5 per BetMGM.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bucks injury report: Is Giannis playing tonight vs. Pacers?
Continue reading...
