Lillard and Antetokounmpo out for Game 4 but Rivers still hopeful for availability in series

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Milwaukee Bucks will be without Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo for Sunday’s Game 4 Eastern Conference first-round game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, but Bucks’ coach Doc Rivers believes both could play at some point in the series.

Lillard is out with an Achilles injury he suffered late in Friday’s Game 3 overtime loss to the Pacers and did not work out on Sunday.

“We’re not shutting him down,” Rivers said. “That’s a fact. I can say that much for sure.”

Antetokounmpo has been out of the lineup since April 9 with a strained calf. He worked out on Sunday. “He moved, he shot,” Rivers said. “He’s running now with no resistance. Those are all very good signs. … I think there’s a chance for him to play in the series. I really do.”

The Pacers, leading 2-1 in the series, could put the Bucks against the wall with a win on Sunday. The series goes back to Milwaukee on Tuesday for Game 5.

Milwaukee’s success would appear to be largely on the shoulders of Khris Middleton, who carried the load on Friday for the Bucks with 42 points and a pair of critical 3-pointers late in regulation and overtime.

“He’s the epitome of a great player,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said of Middleton. “He’s bigger than you think, he’s stronger than you think, he’s quicker and more athletic than you think and when he lines up a shot, you’re surprised when he misses. I think the truth is now, he’s healthier than he’s been all season. A lot of this will be focused on him tonight so that’s going to be another task.”

The Pacers are looking to win their first playoff series in a decade. But Carlisle pointed out that halftime of Sunday’s game will mark the halfway point of the series (assuming it goes seven games). He also pointed out that the starting lineup the Bucks are likely to throw at the Pacers – Middleton, Bobby Portis, Patrick Beverley, Brook Lopez and Malik Beasley – has plenty of offensive firepower.

“If Lillard and Giannis don’t play another second, they have plenty of firepower over there to beat us in the remainder of this series if we don’t have our perspective accurate,” Carlisle said. “We have to compete at a very high and very mature level for this game. This will be the hardest game of the series, to this point. I have no doubt about that. They have a bunch of guys over there dying to prove that they are up for this moment and maybe they should have played more or had more opportunities.”

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

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 'This will be the hardest game of the series.' Pacers ready for Bucks