Climbing from 1-3 series hole has been done multiple times in the NBA before, but those who did it got one thing: their superstars played.
Can the Milwaukee Bucks do it against the Indiana Pacers when Game 5 kicks off at the Fiserv Forum on Tuesday?
The team listed Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard as doubtful for the pivotal game.
The Greek Freak has not played a game since early April due to a torn calf, while Lillard sat out Game 4 due to issues with his Achilles.
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Being listed as doubtful instead of straight-up "out" makes fans think there might be hope for them to salvage the season.
The team also got the homecourt advantage in the series as a third seed.
However, according to NBA insider Shams Charania, the duo All-Stars might not see playing time this season.
"[Giannis Antetokounmpo] just started running over the weekend, and Damian Lillard was in a boot. He's out of the boot now, and he's doing some underwater running...But given that game 5 is just one day away, there is pessimism and some doubt over their status," he said on the "Run it Back" show.
Khris Middleton is also probable for Game 5 after willing the team within striking distance in the last two games, scoring 42 and 25 in the two losses.
The supposed Big 3 of Milwaukee hasn't spent much time together. They have only played eight times together and went 3-5.
In three of those games, one of the Big 3 had to leave the game due to injury.
Likely, Lillard and Antetokounmpo's status for Game 5 will only be made official hours before the tip-off.
Doc Rivers remains optimistic
Before Game 4, Rivers told reporters that he "really do" believe there is still a chance for Giannis to play in the series.
"It went well. He moved. He shot. He's running now with no resistance, so those are all very good signs," he told Bucks reporter Eric Nehm.
However, the medical team still has to make the last decision, which is why he is listed as doubtful for Game 5.
Although their chances of turning things around are slim, Rivers continues to preach one game at a time.
It is not like this belief is baseless.
Despite the injury bugs, the Bucks played the Pacers toe-to-toe in their last two games.
They just came up short in the fourth quarter.
For Middleton, listed as probable and has been playing through pain, it is all about execution.
"Gotta try to protect home court for one, and then the motivation is to try to get back here," he told The Athletic after the Game 4 loss.
"I've been in this situation a couple times where we've been able to force another game. And I've been on the other side when we haven't."
"It could go either way, but we're gonna have to play as hard as we can, we have to execute our game plan, we have to keep guys in check, and even though we've been down before (and) we're down two guys now, we still got all the confidence in the world that we can get back here. I think that's the motivation."
Related article: Khris Middleton Provides Sigh of Relief for Milwaukee Bucks Fans With Injury Update
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