Giannis Antetokounmpo probable to play in Game 5, Wesley Matthews is no longer on the injury report

The Bucks head to a do-or-die Game 5 with a relatively healthy roster.

With Game 5 looming on Wednesday, the Milwaukee Bucks have officially listed superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo as “probable” on their injury report. The Greek Freak made his return to the floor in Game 4 after a two-game absence and was fantastic, notching a triple-double of 26 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds in a 119-114 loss that puts the Bucks in a 3-1 hole and a loss away from elimination.

Veteran wingman Wesley Matthews, though, is no longer on the injury report, giving Milwaukee another perimeter weapon and defender to deploy, especially against a white-hot Jimmy Butler.

Long climb back

The odds are certainly not in the Bucks’ favor in this series. Only 13 squads have come back from a 3-1 series deficit, with the Denver Nuggets being the last team to do it back in 2020 when the NBA Playoffs adopted a “bubble” setting. The last team to overhaul a 3-1 series deficit in a more traditional home-and-away setting was the Cleveland Cavaliers, doing it in the 2016 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors.

Giannis needed IV fluids

Despite the stellar production, Giannis was clearly playing with a lot of discomfort in his lower back. He was seen rubbing his back numerous times during breaks in the action while the training staff regularly used a massage gun to keep his back loose during timeouts. NBA insider Shams Charania also reported that Giannis needed IV fluids after the game.

"He's clearly still dealing with this lower back issue, and he had to play over 38 minutes last night, and those are all reasons why I'm told that post-game Giannis needed IV fluids in Miami," Charania said.