Bucks Coach Doc Rivers Announces Giannis Antetokounmpo Injury Update vs Pacers

Mar 16, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA: Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) walks past head coach Doc Rivers in the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers has revealed his intentions for injured superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo ahead of Monday night's clash against the Indiana Pacers. The Bucks have fallen twice to Indiana during the first round of the playoffs, in each of the last two seasons, and now Milwaukee has stolen a key starter from the Pacers' 2025 Finals team, so there is some genuine bad blood between these two teams.

It will be new Milwaukee center Myles Turner's first time playing at Gainbridge Fieldhouse since he abandoned Indiana for a four-year, $108.9 million free agent contract this past summer.

More news: NBA Announces Giannis Antetokounmpo History After Latest Bucks Game

According to Eric Nehm of The Athletic, Rivers has informed attendant reporters ahead of the Pacers matchup that Antetokounmpo will play.

Bucks coach Doc Rivers tells reporters that he expects Giannis Antetokounmpo to be available tonight in Indianapolis. https://t.co/2BUsiifpr6

— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) November 3, 2025

Antetokounmpo has sat out one game for Milwaukee so far with a left knee patellar tendinopathy, a 120-110 upset Bucks win on Thursday, wherein guard Ryan Rollins took on the scoring burden in Antetokounmpo's stead.

Update

Per the Bucks' official X account, Antetokounmpo has officially been upgraded to play on Monday. Underdog reports that Rivers will start Rollins at the point, shooting guard Gary Trent Jr., AJ Green at small forward, Antetokounmpo at the four spot, and ex-Pacers center Myles Turner.

Indiana, meanwhile, is looking to get just its second straight win of the season, which it will be hard-pressed to do with at least six players sidelined due to injury. Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star reports that Indiana will start point guard Quenton Jackson, shooting guard Jarace Walker, small forward Aaron Nesmith, three-time All-Star power forward Pascal Siakam, and center Isaiah Jackson.

More news: Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo First Player in NBA History to Accomplish Insane Feat

After Turner ditched Indiana for Milwaukee this summer, the Pacers opted not to sign a starting-caliber big man, instead re-signing reserves Jackson and Tony Bradley (James Wiseman was initially brought back, too, but he has since been cut), while trading for sharpshooter Jay Huff, who occasionally starts at the four spot next to Jackson when Siakam has to sit. All in all, it was a depressingly cheap move for a consistently cheap franchise.

But with two-time All-NBA point guard Tyrese Haliburton out for the year, the Pacers clearly had no interest in trying to patch together a luxury tax team in what's looking like a lost season anyway.

For more news and notes on the Milwaukee Bucks, visit Milwaukee Bucks on SI.