MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Bucks open their first round NBA playoff series Saturday at Noon against the Indiana Pacers on the road.
On Thursday, the Bucks announced Damian Lillard is no longer on blood thinners for the blood clot in his calf and has been cleared to resume basketball activities.
How close he is to playing in a game remains questionable.
The Bucks beat the Pacers in three out of four regular season meetings, but now it’s the playoffs, with much more at stake.
“It’s the same themes. Transition, we have to get back,” said Bucks Head Coach Doc Rivers. “We got to take care of the ball. Indiana is not a great offensive rebounding team, but last year, they crushed us on the glass. So, that’s a focal point going in the series.”
This is indeed a playoff rematch of last year, when the Pacers beat the Bucks four games to two.
But last year, the Bucks played without Giannis Antetokounmpo due to injury.
This year, Antetokounmpo is healthy.
“I’m just happy to be out there,” Antetokounmpo said. “I’m happy to compete again. I love playing big games. Games that matter. You can be the difference maker. You can make a play, a defensive play that can win you the game. You can make the pass that can win the game. You can make a turnover that can cost you the game. I love playing in a pressure, stressful situation.”
Bobby Portis was thrown out of a game in last year’s series after an emotional outburst. He said it won’t happen again.
“I mean, nothing is going to bother me anymore,” said Portis. “I have been through so much in my life. The last year, I got thrown out of a playoff game. I got robbed; my grandma died. I got suspended for 25 games. Nobody’s going to knock me off my swag no more. Respectfully, just saying, I’m here. I’m ready to hoop. I ain’t hooped in a minute. I’m just ready to play ball. Check ball, man.”
Game 2 of the series will be Tuesday night at Indiana before shifting to Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee for Game 3 Friday night at 7 p.m. and Game 4 Sunday night at 8:30 p.m.