Tyrese Haliburton is a perpetual threat to the Bucks’ defense. His playmaking skills are sharp as a knife and deleterious enough to bleed a defense dry. Over the years, he’s been a consistent thorn in the Bucks’ sides. After a slow start to the season, Indiana’s stock car offense picked up steam in the second half of its 82-game campaign.

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard is off blood-thinning medication and has been cleared for full basketball activity after suffering deep-vein thrombosis.

Milwaukee acquired Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers in 2023. Lillard is averaging 24.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists in 131 games with the Bucks, who won the championship in 2021 but haven't even gotten back to the Eastern Conference Finals since then.

With a healthy Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks are well-positioned to keep things close in their Game 1 opener at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.