Bucks-Pacers Series Odds Without Giannis

The Milwaukee Bucks are hopeful they can make it through the start of the NBA Playoffs without their top star.

The Bucks face off against the Indiana Pacers to start their series but two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to miss much of it following treatment on his left calf strain.

Antetokounmpo has been undergoing around-the-clock treatment on the calf, sources said.

"Until we know if he's playing or not, we're going to prepare as if he's not playing," Bucks forward Khris Middleton said after practice Tuesday. "Simple as that."

Antetokounmpo is not the only Bucks player who could sit out to start the series.

Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Damian Lillard did not participate in Tuesday's practice after dealing with groin and adductor injuries near the end of the season.

Lillard said following Sunday's regular-season finale in Orlando that he would likely not be 100% for the rest of the season.

"We feel like -- let's get him a little more rest," Rivers said. "He's still doing conditioning and stuff like that, but we went [5-on-5] a lot today and we didn't want him out there."

"We want him to be as close to 100% as possible if you can be that at this point."

The books were still a -115 favorite to win the series even with the injuries.

The Pacers won four of five regular-season games against the Bucks.

- Mary Montgomery, Gambling911.com