Milwaukee standout player Giannis Antetokounmpo will be unavailable for the kickoff of the first-round matchup between the Bucks and the Indiana Pacers due to a left calf strain, as conveyed by ESPN on Tuesday.

Following his departure from the April 9 win against the Boston Celtics, Antetokounmpo was benched for the final three games in the regular season.

According to reports from ESPN, Antetokounmpo has committed to receiving continuous treatment for the muscle strain, but his participation in Game 1 in Milwaukee remains uncertain.

The Pacers, holding the sixth seed in the East, dominated the regular-season bouts against the third-seeded Bucks, with a remarkable 4-1 record.

In Milwaukee’s solitary triumph over Indiana this season on December 13, Antetokounmpo showcased an outstanding performance, amassing 64 points, 14 rebounds, and four steals, thereby propelling the Bucks to a 140-126 triumph.

In the absence of Antetokounmpo, the third-seeded Bucks relinquished the second spot in the East to the New York Knicks on the closing day of the regular season.

Aged 29, Antetokounmpo participated in 73 regular-season matches, and the eight-time All-Star maintained an average of 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists, shooting an exceptional 61.1 percent from the field.