Milwaukee Bucks ‘very, very, very close’ to getting huge news ahead of Game 6 vs. Pacers

“Role players play better at home,” the saying goes. Well, with their backs against the wall, the Milwaukee Bucks got contributions from a few of those role players as they routed the Indiana Pacers 115-92 in front of their home crowd at Fiserv Forum.

The series heads back to Indiana for Game 6 with the Pacers leading 3-2.

The Bucks made history twice over in the unlikely win, becoming the first team in NBA history to win a playoff game without their top two scorers as Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and Damian Lillard (Achilles) remained sidelined.

Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis each had 29 points and Patrick Beverley had a crucial 13-point, 12-assist night. Middleton added 12 rebounds and Portis had 10, making that trio the first in franchise history to all post double-doubles since 1981, per ESPN Stats & Information.

But Milwaukee may not need another historic performance to bring the series back to Fiserv Forum for a Game 7.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard ‘very, very, very close’ to return for Milwaukee Bucks

After Game 5, Bucks Head Coach Doc Rivers was asked about the status of his two stars. He sounded more encouraged about a potential comeback than he has at any point this postseason, or even the end of the regular season in the case of Antetokounmpo:

I think they’re very, very, very close.

Lillard is no longer sporting a walking boot after he aggravated a previous Achilles injury at the end of Game 3. Wednesday will be the first time he tests the injury as he’s expected to go through a full workout. Giannis went through his own complete workout on Sunday for the first time since injuring his calf on April 9.

With the Pacers still leading the series 3-2, Milwaukee must win back-to-back games to avoid another early-round playoff elimination. But getting their two stars back would make that a much less imposing proposition.

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