The 2024 NBA Playoffs Bracket is off to a terrific start, and there have already been many great moments throughout the first round. Drama and excitement are only going to get better as time moves along, but there is another trend that is impacting the outcomes.
Several key players have been dealing with significant 2024 Playoffs injuries, and those injuries are changing the way series’ play out. Injuries are always a part of the game every single year, but they seem to be more common, and devastating, this season.
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Bucks Could Get Stars Back
The Bucks are trying to stage a huge comeback against the Indiana Pacers, and they are also trying to do it without two stars. Milwaukee was able to win Game 5 without both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, a feat that had never been done in NBA history.
The Milwaukee Bucks became the first team in NBA history to win a postseason game without their two leading scorers from the regular season. Lillard has actually made an appearance in this series, while Antetokounmpo has not been able to see the floor.
Antetokounmpo has been out of the lineup since April 9 with a strained left calf, but he has been doing some light work on the court. The Bucks were anticipating him only being available if they advanced to Round 2, but he could make an earlier return.
Damian Lillard has missed the last two games of this series with an Achilles injury, and it initially placed him in a walking boot. Lillard initially hurt the Achilles tendon during the regular season, but reaggravated it back in Game 3.
Getting one or both players back for Game 6 would provide a huge boost to the Bucks, but those 2024 Playoffs injuries have already had an impact on this series.
Leonard Out For Clippers
Kawhi Leonard has been dealing with injury concerns over the last few years, and that was the case throughout the regular season as well. Leonard missed Game 4 against the Dallas Mavericks with right knee inflammation, and the Clippers already announced that he was out for Game 5.
The Los Angeles Clippers were actually able to win Game 4 without Leonard in the lineup, but it’s not going to be easy to pull off that feat again. Los Angeles is currently in a 2-2 series with the Dallas Mavericks and things have been extremely tight.
Leonard missed the final eight games of the regular season and then was held out of the lineup in Game 1. He returned to the lineup with 15 points in Game 2, but that seemed to cause some more issues.
The former Finals MVP pushed through the pain to play in Game 3, but coaches have stopped him from participating in basketball activities afterward. Rest appears to be the only remedy for Leonard, but the star needs his team to advance.
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Celtics to Be Without Porzingis
The Boston Celtics remain the betting favorite to win the NBA Championship this season, but their path just got a bit more complicated. Boston will now be without center Kristaps Porzingis for the next few games as he is dealing with a right soleus strain.
There is no official timetable for his return, but the Celtics are hoping to get Porzingis back in the lineup at some point during the NBA playoffs schedule. This is the same 2024 Playoffs injuries that was suffered by Giannis Antetokounmpo, and it has kept him out nearly a month.
The injury occurred during the first half of the Game 4 win over the Miami Heat, and Porzingis left the court immediately. Porzingis had a monster regular season for the Boston Celtics as he averaged 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
Boston needs just one more win to advance to the Second Round of the NBA Playoffs, but things will get harder without Porzingis from that point.
Keep checking out our NBA injury report before each game!
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