Giannis Antetokounmpo will play in must-win Game 4 vs. Heat

Giannis Antetokounmpo to play through pain in Game 4 of the Eastern Semis

Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t 100 percent, but he’s going to battle in a must-win Game 4 Sunday.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, “Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (right ankle sprain) is planning to play in Game 4 today vs. Miami.” Thus far, it has been a disaster for Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks in their Eastern Conference Semifinals series vs. the Miami Heat. Despite being the top seed in the East, Milwaukee is on the brink of elimination down 0-3.

Will the Milwaukee Bucks have a chance to live to fight another day?

This was the season the Bucks were expected to take the next step and reach the NBA Finals, something they haven’t done since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was their best player back in the 1970s. Antetokounmpo may be the best player in the Eastern Conference, but his team is getting worked by Erik Spoelstra, Jimmy Butler and the rest of this up-and-coming Miami team.

Given the crushing sense of urgency here, Milwaukee can survive on Sunday and win Game 4 to stave off elimination. However, this team may not have what it takes to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals in back-to-back years. Milwaukee is talented, but so is Miami.

This is a game where Antetokounmpo’s mettle will be tested. Sunday will be the most adversity he’s faced on the NBA hardwood. If he and his Bucks lose on Sunday afternoon, they get to leave the Orlando bubble and go home as arguably the biggest disappointment of the NBA season. That might seem like a pipe dream at this point, but a second-round sweep screams nothing but disaster for Milwaukee.

Antetokounmpo needs to have one of the best games of his career to keep the Bucks’ hopes alive.