When will Giannis Antetokounmpo be back? Bucks update Giannis injury status

The loss of Giannis Antetokounmpo did not hamper the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night as they opened their playoff journey with a win over the Indiana Pacers.

The Bucks picked up a 109-94 win in Game 1, with Damian Lillard scoring 35 points in the first half alone. Lillard will be key in the absence of Giannis and he revealed after the match that he had been eager to start fast in the playoff opener.

“Games are hard enough,” Lillard explained in the post-match. “So you don’t want to come out slow and wait. You want to have your pace, you want to be sharp and be connected and be aggressive. So that was my mentality.”

But while the Bucks had enough to edge ahead of the Pacers in Game 1, the fitness of Giannis is a major focus of attention as they look to clinch the third championship in franchise history.

Related: Pacers and Mathurin eye return date

What is the latest on Giannis’ injury?

Bucks head coach Doc Rivers confirmed that Giannis took part in the team’s practice on Saturday afternoon but his involvement did not extend beyond a walkthrough. Rivers has hinted that Giannis could still feature in this playoff series with the Pacers and has a key role to play in the postseason.

The two-time NBA MVP suffered a left soleus muscle (calf) strain against the Boston Celtics on 9 April and has not featured since. In the latest injury report from the Bucks, published on Saturday afternoon, Antetokounmpo was listed as ‘doubtful’, suggesting that he is close to a return.

Bucks teaMMAte Damian Lillard suffered a soleus muscle strain last season and was out for 15 Games. If Giannis’ injury keeps him sidelined for a similar amount of time he could return for Game 3 of this series on Friday, 26 April.