Sunday marked the beginning of the postseason for the Milwaukee Bucks without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose left calf strain prevented him from playing in the Bucks’ final three regular-season contests.

Antetokounmpo was ruled out for Game 1 of the Bucks’ first-round Eastern Conference playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, per Bucks head coach Doc Rivers. Antetokounmpo was previously categorized as doubtful for the contest on Sunday night.

Rivers remarked that Antetokounmpo “certainly looks better,” but the coach did not specify when the forward might be available to play. Tuesday is Game 2 in Milwaukee.

“We gather our materials from the floor,” Rivers explained. “Giannis has accomplished much. Presently, he is filming. He has resumed exercising. He has a nice appearance. However, his participation has been unable to materialize, thus we have diligently prepared this week with the resources at our disposal.”

This season, he averaged 42.2 points, 13 rebounds, and 5.4 assists against the Pacers. In Milwaukee’s lone victory over Indiana, he set a franchise record with 64 points.

Antetokounmpo grabbed his left calf and sat on the floor during the third quarter of an April 9 victory over the Boston Celtics as he struggled to sprint up the court. Ultimately, Antetokounmpo proceeded to the locker room, where an MRI identified the muscle strain.

In his absence during the regular season, Antetokounmpo was out for the Bucks, who finished 4-5. This was the result of two consecutive setbacks that pushed them from second to third place in the Eastern Conference standings.

This season, Milwaukee has become accustomed to performing without its marquee players. Five of the last 33 games were played with the Bucks’ top three players—Acetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, and Khris Middleton—at their disposal.

This season, Antetokounmpo finished second in the NBA in scoring with 30.4, sixth in rebounding with 11.5 points, and fourteenth in assists with 6.5. In doing so, he set a league record as the first player to surpass 30 points per game on an average while shooting at least 60% from the floor.

Antetokounmpo has previously performed through postseason injuries.

With a sprained ankle, he missed the final 1 1/2 games of a 2020 second-round loss to Miami. With a hyperextended knee, he missed the last two games of the 2021 Eastern Conference finals. However, upon returning to guide the Bucks to their first championship since 1971, he was named Finals Most Valuable Player after putting forth 50 points in a Game 6 victory over the Phoenix Suns that secured the championship.

In the previous season, Antetokounmpo was sidelined in Game 1 and missed the subsequent two games in the Bucks’ first-round loss to Miami due to an injured lower back.