Bucks hoping to see Antetokounmpo can play Game 5 vs. Heat

Milwaukee Bucks will play ar day. y’re waiting to see if reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo will join m.

It’s still a dire situation for team that had league's best regular-season record this season — y’re down 3-1 in Eastern Conference semifinals to Miami Heat, with ar win-or-go-home test awaiting in Game 5 on Tuesday night. And y don’t kw if Antetokounmpo, who sprained his right ankle in Game 3 and n again in Game 4, will be ready.

“re’s hope,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “We’re t ruling him out, so I guess until he’s ruled out you have hope. He’s going to do everything he can to make himself available.”

Also Tuesday: Game 3 of Western Conference semifinals, with that matchup between Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets tied at a game apiece.

Antetokounmpo was with Bucks for ir light practice Monday. He got treatment on ankle, n left wearing a protective boot over his right foot — a standard practice with sprains to keep injured area from bearing weight.

Bucks won Game 4 without him for most part, beating Heat in overtime. NBA ackwledged Monday that two fouls should have been called on Bucks late in regulation, including one that would have put Jimmy Butler on foul line with 24 seconds left and Heat leading by a point. Donte DiVincenzo made a free throw on next Milwaukee possession to force overtime.

“Our veteran players are experienced eugh to kw how difficult it is to win in playoffs and how challenging it is just to win one game,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Each game has been like that. re have been se moments of truth and for three straight games we were able to win those moments of truth.”

In Game 4, it was Milwaukee’s turn. And with or without Antetokounmpo, Bucks still believe y can extend series.

“Did we put ourselves in a hole? Absolutely,” Milwaukee’s Wesley Matws said. “Are we going to be punks about it? Absolutely t.”

Lakers ktted up ir series with a 117-109 win in Game 2 on Sunday night, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis combining for 62 points and 21 rebounds on 25-for-41 shooting. Rajon Rondo giving Lakers 10 points and nine assists in 29 minutes off bench was ar big factor.

key, James said, was Lakers being able to have a better feel for how fast Houston plays.

“Sometimes you need one game to be able to understand speed that y play with,” James said. “I think that we adjusted from Game 1 to Game 2. Extremely fast team ... and we got a feel for that. We understand how every possession and how much scrambling, how much running, how much pace, how physical game is going to be versus this team. y’re very good. Extremely good, matter who’s on floor.”

A look at Tuesday’s games:

HEAT VS. BUCKS

Miami leads 3-1. Game 5, 6:30 p.m. EDT, TNT.

— NEED TO KW: In seven previous series where Miami has taken a 3-0 series lead in a best-of-seven, Heat always closed it out in four or five games. y’d like to see that trend continue Tuesday. Leaguewide, 53 of last 57 series where someone took a 3-0 lead ended in eir four or five games.

— KEEP AN EYE ON: Bucks’ minutes after y emptied tanks in Game 4. Khris Middleton played a season-high 48 minutes, his most in 5 1/2 years. Brook Lopez played 42 minutes, a season high for second consecutive game and his most in nearly four years. Eric Bledsoe logged his most minutes (40) since March 2018. George Hill also set a season high in minutes (37), going over 31 for just second time all season. And y did all that facing elimination pressure. Can y do it again?

— INJURY WATCH: Antetokounmpo’s status is obviously biggest factor here. Miami’s Jae Crowder took a rough fall late in overtime of Game 4 as well.

— PRESSURE IS ON: Miami. All on Miami. longer this goes, more hope Bucks will have of becoming first team in NBA history to win a series after trailing 3-0.

LAKERS VS. ROCKETS

Series tied 1-1. Game 3, 9 p.m. EDT, TNT.

— NEED TO KW: Each of Houston’s last two playoff losses has been immediately followed by a win, which means Rockets will head into Game 3 certainly kwing that y can regain control. As was case in Oklahoma City series, turvers tell story for Houston: Rockets had 17 in Game 2, leading to 27 Lakers points, and re’s way that wasn’t going to lead to a loss.

— KEEP AN EYE ON: James will draw — and self-inflict — criticism for seven turvers in Game 2, but he controlled game anyway: 28 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists, four steals and two blocks in 39 minutes is big-time, and Lakers outscored Rockets by 15 with him on floor Sunday. In nine minutes when he didn’t play, Rockets won by seven.

— INJURY WATCH: Dion Waiters (strained groin) and JaVale McGee (ankle) couldn’t play much for Lakers in Game 2. If McGee can’t go, perhaps Dwight Howard returns to rotation. Rondo coming back from his thumb injury has been a huge boost, especially in Game 2. “He’s a leader,” James said.

— PRESSURE IS ON: Rockets guards James Harden and Russell Westbrook. y were 10 for 27 from floor in Game 2 and Rockets still had a chance.

Im credits: AP