NBA Rumors: Giannis Out Injured to Start Bucks vs. Pacers Playoff Series but Hopeful

The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly planning to be without star Giannis Antetokounmpo for the start of their playoff series against the Indiana Pacers.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported the news, noting the team is "hopeful treatment on his left calf strain will allow him to return sometime later in the series."

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported on Monday that there was "some real doubt" about Antetokounmpo's status for the start of Milwaukee's first-round playoff series against the Pacers while he continues to rehab the calf injury he suffered on April 9 vs. the Boston Celtics.

The Bucks initially feared the worst when the two-time MVP went down with a noncontact injury against Boston, but sources told Wojnarowski that Antetokounmpo's left Achilles tendon is fully intact.

In 73 games this season, Antetokounmpo averaged 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks while shooting a career-high 61.1 percent from the field, putting himself in the MVP conversation once again. He helped lead Milwaukee to a 49-33 record, but the team had higher aspirations.

The Bucks fired first-year head coach Adrian Griffin midway through the season and replaced him with Doc Rivers. Despite an experienced coach leading the way, Milwaukee still struggled to find consistency. The team went 17-19 with Rivers at the helm.

With Antetokounmpo possibly missing time, the Bucks will have a slim chance of getting past the Pacers in a seven-game series. The onus will be on Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton to shoulder the offensive load in Antetokounmpo's absence.