'These guys aren’t going away – no matter who is playing': Pacers wary of ailing Bucks

INDIANAPOLIS -- Damian Lillard’s reaction to a question about his health after the Pacers’ overtime Game 3 first-round playoff win on Friday night did not inspire much confidence for his availability for Sunday, though he said “the plan” was to play.

As of Saturday, it does not appear that will happen. According to multiple reports, the Milwaukee Bucks’ star guard is doubtful for Sunday’s pivotal Game 4 in the first round Eastern Conference series with his team trailing the Pacers 2-1. Lillard said he aggravated an Achilles injury late in regulation in Game 3, a 121-118 overtime win for Indiana.

“It’s one of those spots on your body where you literally can’t do nothing about it,” Lillard said Friday night. “If you can’t move, you can’t move. So, we have a couple of days tonight to start to just try to get ahead of it, just get it feeling better and get ready for Sunday.”

Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Saturday afternoon that Lillard was wearing a walking boot on his right foot after the Bucks’ film session. Bucks’ coach Doc Rivers said “not looking great, but we don’t know yet,” on Lillard’s availability for Game 4.

It remains unclear if Giannis Antetokounmpo will play in Game 4 due to a calf strain that kept him out the first three games. Rivers said Antetokounmpo will work out Sunday before a determination is made on his status.

All of the above would obviously play in the Pacers’ favor and add some urgency to a Game 4 that would put the franchise one game away from advancing out of the first round for the first time in a decade. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle responded with a simple “yeah” when asked after Saturday’s film session if the game plan would adjust based on the Bucks’ personnel, but later added some context to playing a team with playoff experience like Milwaukee.

“We’re dealing with a team that is a playoff-hardened, experienced group with a championship pedigree,” Carlisle said. “These guys aren’t going away – no matter who is playing or not playing. We have every expectation that Giannis is going be back in the fold soon. We’re prepared for him to be there (Sunday). If he isn’t, we’ll prepare for him to be there for Game 5. But as a group, we need to keep a level head and the correct perspective on this. There are a lot of things we need to do better than we did (Friday) night. We fought our way to an important win, but again it’s just one win and we need to move forward and address other things that need to be addressed.”

Pascal Siakam, who had 17 points and nine rebounds in Friday’s win after going for 36 and 37 points, respectively, in Game 1 and 2, said he was not even aware of the injury updates on Lillard and Antetokounmpo.

“I’m not anywhere on social media,” he said with a laugh. “So, I don’t know what’s happening.”

Obi Toppin’s best game of series

There were a few memorable chants from the home crowd during Game 3 on Friday, including “Bob-by sucks!” in honor of Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis. A more positive chant that rang through Gainbridge Fieldhouse was “Ob-eee Top-pin!” in honor of the Pacers’ Obi Toppin’s fast start.

The 26-year-old Toppin nearly matched his offensive production in the first two games of the series combined with an 11-point first quarter to help the Pacers to a fast start that ballooned to as big as 19 points in the first half.

“He’s important for us,” Siakam said of the 6-9 Toppin. “Obi’s pace is one of best in the league. When he has that pace, that energy, everything flows for him and helps us as a team to play a pace we want to play at. He’s a big part of that.”

Toppin, after shooting 1-for-9 from the 3-point line and scoring a combined 13 points in Game 1 and 2, finished with 15 points and six rebounds in Game 3 in 17 minutes.

“This is great that he’s getting this kind of extended playoff experience in games,” Carlisle said. “He played some last year and did good things last year (with the Knicks), but there is more responsibility this year and he’s learning what rising to those expectations is about. Just need him to continue to do the simple things that make him an effective player – running, shooting open shots, putting pressure on the rim, playing defense without fouling and rebounding.”

Carlisle said Toppin is an easy fan favorite “because of his vibe and body language.”

Middleton performance draws Jordan comparison

Khris Middleton was nearly unstoppable in Game 3. The Bucks’ star finished with 42 points, including a pair of tough 3-pointers at the end of regulation and overtime.

Is there anything the Pacers could have done different guarding Middleton?

“He’s a great player,” Carlisle said. “I thought we were in great position on a lot of plays. He’s at a point in his season when it looks like he is fully healthy and at the height of his powers. So, we have to be ready with addition double-team schemes and scenarios.”

Carlisle won an NBA championship as a player in 1986 with the Boston Celtics, one of the league’s most dominant teams in history. In the first round of the playoffs that season, Michael Jordan put up 63 points to set a playoff record for the Bulls in a 135-131 double overtime loss to the Celtics.

“I’ve seen a lot of great playoff performances and there are very few that eclipse what (Middleton) did last night,” Carlisle said. “I was in the building when Jordan got 63 and actually played in that game. What he did last night was really amazing. It’s another reason why our respect level for them and their experience and their will is ultra high.”

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers react to Damian Lillard's status in question for Game 4