Giannis Antetokounmpo is probable to play for the Bucks in must-win Game 5 vs. Heat

After playing his first game in eight days, Giannis Antetokounmpo was listed as probable to play for the Milwaukee Bucks in their must-win game against the Miami Heat on Wednesday night at Fiserv Forum.

The top-seeded Bucks face a 3-1 series deficit to the No. 8 seed Miami Heat.

Only 13 teams have come back from such a deficit in league history, the most recent being the Denver Nuggets (twice) in the 2020 "bubble" playoffs. The last team to do so in a traditional playoff setting were the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals against Golden State.

Is Giannis playing in Game 5?

At this point, probable is just that for the Most Valuable Player finalist.

After suffering a lower back contusion in Game 1 on April 16, he was listed as questionable for Games 2 and 3 – only to not play. He was ultimately cleared to play in Game 4 on Monday night in Miami, but it was the clear the 28-year-old was playing through discomfort the entire night.

In 38 minutes, he did record his third career playoff triple-double with 26 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds in the Bucks' loss.

“I thought Giannis was mostly phenomenal," Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer said after the game. "Thirteen assists. I thought he found guys and made the right play. He got to the basket and finished. I’m not sure what more Giannis could’ve done. I thought his passing and playmaking was fantastic. So, we’ll look at the film and see where everybody could be better, but for Giannis to come back and play tonight and play the way he did is very encouraging.”

More: Jimmy Butler 3-1 deficit Bucks 'It's not over': Bucks must overcome history, Jimmy Butler to rebound from 3-1 series deficit

Bucks injury report

• Giannis Antetokounmpo (lower back contusion), probable

Wesley Matthews is back for Bucks

Bucks wing Wesley Matthews strained his right calf in Game 1 and had been out for the last few games, but the veteran was removed from the injury report entirely on Tuesday. Matthews did individual work in Miami on Sunday and some late pregame work on Monday.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bucks injury report for Game 5 vs. Heat: Will Giannis play?