The Milwaukee Bucks are slowly returning to full strength just as the postseason begins.
While star guard Damian Lillard will remain sidelined to open the playoffs, the team is expected to regain some frontcourt depth with the anticipated return of Jericho Sims for Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.
Sims has been unavailable since suffering a thumb injury on March 16. But head coach Doc Rivers expressed optimism about the center’s availability heading into the weekend.
“Yes. I think so, pretty sure of that,” Rivers said when asked if Sims would suit up for the series opener against Indiana.
Since arriving in Milwaukee via a trade deadline deal with the New York Knicks in exchange for backup guard Delon Wright, Sims had been serving as the Bucks’ primary reserve behind Brook Lopez.
In his 14 appearances for the Bucks before the injury, the 6-foot-10 center averaged 2.4 points and 4.9 rebounds in roughly 15 minutes per contest.
While Lillard’s absence will be a significant challenge for Milwaukee, the return of Sims provides a much-needed boost to the team’s depth in the paint, especially as they prepare for a physical series against the Pacers.
Bucks Expect Jericho Sims To Be Available For Playoffs https://t.co/2fDSU92XPu
— RealGM (@RealGM) April 16, 2025
