Ahead of Tuesday's Game 5, the Indiana Pacers have a 3-1 series lead against the Milwaukee Bucks. After eliminating their division rivals in the first round last year, the Pacers are on track to repeat history this time around. However, the series is not over just yet, though the Pacers will have a chance to officially send the Bucks home on Tuesday.
Outside of Game 3, the Pacers have had control of the series against Milwaukee. They have played great on both sides of the ball and have executed their game plan against the Bucks perfectly. With the Pacers needing just one more win to advance to the second round, they will aim to take care of business and clinch the series on Tuesday.
Here is the full injury report for the Pacers and Bucks ahead of Game 5.
Pacers Game 5 injury report vs. Bucks
- Isaiah Jackson (Achilles) - OUT
- Bennedict Mathurin (abdominal) - AVAILABLE
- Aaron Nesmith (back) - AVAILABLE
Bennedict Mathurin missed Indiana's Game 4 victory due to an abdominal bruise. The Canadian native remained on the Pacers' injury report for Game 5 and was listed as questionable. However, he has since been upgraded to available. In three games this series, Mathurin is averaging 12 points and 3 rebounds while shooting 40% from the field and 14.3% from beyond the arc. If he is unable to go, the Pacers will rely more heavily on Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard to contribute off the bench.
The Pacers added Aaron Nesmith to their injury report with a back bruise, but he is also listed as available. Nesmith has played in each of the Pacers' four playoff games so far and is playing a big role. In the series, Nesmith is averaging 13.8 points, 5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1 steal per game while shooting 54.1% from the field and a fantastic 52.4% from the three-point line on 5.3 attempts.
Bucks Game 5 injury report vs. Pacers
- Damian Lillard (Achilles) - OUT
- Tyler Smith (ankle) - OUT
Just six minutes into Game 4, Damian Lillard suffered a non-contact injury and missed the rest of the game. It has since been announced that he suffered an Achilles injury and will be out for the rest of the season. The 34-year-old appeared in three games for the Bucks in the series after missing over a month due to a blood clot.
Bucks big man Tyler Smith, who scored 20 points in the team's regular season finale, has missed the entire series so far due to an ankle injury. Smith remains on the Bucks' injury report for Game 5 and will be out once again after initially being listed as doubtful.