Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo Ruled Out vs. Rockets After Ankle Injury
Apr 29, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) controls the ball during an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers Wednesday, March 31, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Antetokounmpo played less than a minute before suffering the injury.
The two-time MVP had already missed six games earlier this month due to left knee soreness and could now miss more time with this right ankle sprain. He initially suffered a left knee sprain in late March but missed only one game before returning to the floor.
He remains one of the top players in the league when healthy, entering the day with averages of 28.5 points, 11.4 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game.
Extended absences were previously rare for Antetokounmpo, who never missed more than 10 regular-season games in any of his first seven years in the NBA.
The 26-year-old did deal with an ankle injury during the 2020 postseason, limiting the forward as the Miami Heat eliminated the Bucks in the second round of the playoffs.
Milwaukee obviously takes a step back whenever Giannis is unavailable, putting pressure on other players like Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday to take on bigger roles offensively. Bobby Portis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo should also see extra minutes until the superstar is back to full strength.
Giannis, Bucks Cruise Past 76ers with Joel Embiid out Due to Shoulder Injury
Apr 24, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo dribbles during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston CelticsWednesday, March 24, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Three days after snapping a modest two-game losing streak in a win against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Milwaukee Bucks beat them again 132-94 at the Fiserv Forum on Saturday afternoon.
The Bucks knocked off the Sixers 124-117 on Thursday. They are now 1.5 games behind Philadelphia for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff standings with two weeks left in the regular season.
Philadelphia is scuffling at the worst possible time. It has lost four straight games overall, but the schedule does lighten up with only three of its final 12 games against teams that currently have a winning record.
The Sixers do have a legitimate excuse, as they have been without Ben Simmons for all four games of this streak due to a non-COVID illness. Joel Embiid was ruled out for this game with a sore right shoulder that he originally injured in Thursday's loss.
It was apparent early on the 76ers offense was going to struggle without its two All-Stars. The Bucks held them to 17 points in the first quarter and 3-of-20 three-point shooting in the first half. They only shot 37.8 percent from the field for the entire game.
With Doc Rivers using a small starting lineup, Giannis Antetokounmpo had a double-double by the end of the first half with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Dwight Howard (PHI): 12 points (5-of-8 FG), 12 rebounds
Giannis, Holiday Lift Bucks to Easy Win over Sixers
Even though the Bucks have won back-to-back games over a team ahead of them in the standings, there isn't a lot to celebrate about their performance from Saturday.
Khris Middleton was a non-factor on offense withfour points.The two-time All-Star missed each of his six field-goal attempts. This was his first game without a made field goal since April 13, 2016 (0-of-3).
With Middleton struggling to find his shooting form, Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday and the bench did most of the heavy lifting for Milwaukee. The reigning two-time NBA MVP was a force in the paint against an undersized Sixers lineup.
Antetokounmpo joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Glenn Robinson as theonly playersin Bucks history to score at least 12,000 points.
Holiday continued his stellar all-around play this season in Saturday's win. The 30-year-oldtied his season-high with four steals.
Pat Connaughton remains a spark plug off the bench for head coach Mike Budenholzer. The Notre Dame alum's plus-27 in 21 minutes was tied with Holiday for the best plus-minus rating in the game. He scored 11 points, breaking the double-digit mark for the fifth time in the past seven games.
This was a game where the Bucks should have been able to have their way with an opponent. The Sixers are in a state of turmoil at the moment without Embiid and Simmons.
There were some sloppy moments early on before Milwaukee finally turned on the jets in the second half. The result was an easy win that closes the gap as it looks to surpass the 76ers for the No. 2 seed in the playoff race.
Undermanned Sixers Must Find Quick Fix
After spending most of the season in a race with the Brooklyn Nets for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, the 76ers have hit their roughest stretch of the season at a bad time.
Brooklyn is leading them in the overall standings by one game with Kevin Durant listed asprobableto return for Sunday's game against the Phoenix Suns.
The Bucks are only one game behind the Sixers in the loss column after Saturday's win. They also own the tiebreaker if the two teams finish the regular season with the same record by virtue of sweeping their three head-to-head matchups.
Meanwhile, 76ers head coach Doc Rivers has beencareful not to speculateabout when Simmons might be able to return. Embiid doesn't seem like he will miss an extended period of time. He did go through pregame warmups and wasinitially listed in the starting lineup before the team decided to hold him back.
Tobias Harris is still rounding into form after sitting out three straight games prior to Thursday with knee soreness. He could only muster nine points on 4-of-10 shootingagainst the Bucks in just 26 minutes.
It's been a rough first half for the 76ers, scoring only 40 points, their fewest in any half this season.
The biggest struggle came from deep. Of the 20 3-pt FG Philly attempted, 17 were contested (shot 2-17).
Philadelphia did show good fight into the third quarter. It cut Milwaukee's deficit to 55-54 thanks to a 10-0 run four minutes into the second half.
From that point on, though, the Bucks outscored Philadelphia 77-40 over the final 20:36 of game time to turn what looked like it might be a tight game into a blowout.
There's still time for the Sixers to turn things around before the postseason. Their schedule does ease up over the final two weeks with just three games against teams that currently have a winning record.
Assuming Simmons and Embiid are able to return quickly, the Sixers still have a road to the No. 1 seed in the east. But that road has hit some speed bumps already with the potential for more along the way if their two stars continue to miss time.
What's Next?
The 76ers will begin a three-game homestand Monday at 7 p.m. ET against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Bucks start a four-game road trip Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET against the Atlanta Hawks.
While the NBA has often had standout players from outside of the United States, the past two decades have continually brought more international talent to North America. Largely, that's a product of basketball being a global game...
Giannis Drops 15 in Return from Knee Injury as Bucks Best Trae Young, Hawks
Apr 16, 2021
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 15: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on April 15, 2021 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Milwaukee Bucks earned a 120-109 road win over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday at State Farm Arena.
Reigning back-to-back NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to the court after missing six straight games with left knee soreness. He had 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting, five rebounds and three steals in 25 minutes.
Hawks point guard and leading scorer Trae Young returned after missing two games with a bruised left calf. He went scoreless in the first half before finishing the game with 15 points on 3-of-17 shooting.
Milwaukee used a 16-2 run that spanned the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth to help turn a slight 82-80 edge into a 98-82 lead. The Bucks never led by fewer than eight points for the remainder of the game.
The Bucks clearly won the battle of the second units on this night, with Milwaukee reserves scoring 44 points to Atlanta bench players' 16. Seven Bucks scored in double digits, led by Jrue Holiday's 23.
The Hawks remained without John Collins (left ankle sprain), De'Andre Hunter (right knee soreness) and Cam Reddish (right Achilles soreness). Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic paced all scorers with 28 points (10-of-20 overall, 6-of-12 three-point shooting).
The 35-20 Bucks have won three straight games, and the 30-26 Hawks' three-game win streak ended with the defeat.
Notable Performances
Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo: 15 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals
Bucks G Jrue Holiday: 23 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds
Bucks C Brook Lopez: 19 points, 12 rebounds
Hawks G Trae Young: 15 points, 9 assists
Hawks C Clint Capela: 16 points, 16 rebounds
Hawks G Bogdan Bogdanovic: 28 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds
Hawks F Kevin Huerter: 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists
Giannis Returns, Bucks Roll
Antetokounmpo didn't post gaudy statistics in his return as he usually does, but the Bucks still cruised en route to a fairly comfortable 11-point road win.
The two-time NBA MVP didn't look particularly rusty, though, like when he took just two dribbles from half court to the hoop for an early layup:
Antetokounmpo didn't put the team on his back, but he didn't need to on this night with the Bucks' second unit doing so well.
He only played 25 minutes in his return and was able to rest at the end of the game with the game well in the Bucks' control.
Overall, the night couldn't have gone much better for Antetokounmpo and the Bucks as they welcomed back their superstar en route to making a run at the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed.
Young, Hawks' Second Unit Struggle in Defeat
Young's return to the court did not go as well as Antetokounmpo's, as he missed all six of his first-half field goals and didn't score until there was 6:40 remaining in the third quarter.
It appeared that bucket, which preceded a free throw to complete a three-point play, would result in Young turning his game around. He eventually scored nine points in a 3:09 span to help pull the Hawks within 82-80 late in the third quarter.
That wasn't meant to be, though. Young's shot didn't fall, and turnovers were a consistent problem, with the ex-Oklahoma star committing six on the night.
It's not too much to be concerned about. Sure, Young struggled, but he also missed five shots within 12 feet of the hoop in the first half and eight overall. He's simply not going 0-for-whatever on most nights from that distance.
Off the bench, the Hawks' reserves could not get much going.
Hawks guard Lou Williams finished with a minus-27. Nathan Knight missed all five of his field goals, and Brandon Goodwin played 10 scoreless minutes. Rookie center Onyeka Okongwu scored eight points in nine minutes, but he also had three fouls. The Bucks outscored the Hawks by at least 10 points with each of those players on the floor.
On the other end, the Bucks reserves were menaces all night, with Pat Connaughton notably finishing at plus-21 and Jeff Teague ending at plus-18. Those two plus Bobby Portis and P.J. Tucker, who made up the four primary Bucks reserves, combined for 44 points, 20 rebounds and eight assists.
It wasn't a good night for the Hawks, but they can take solace in the fact that they're still 16-6 under head coach Nate MacMillan and a likely shoo-in for the Eastern Conference playoffs thanks to their efforts over the past few months following a 14-20 start.
What's Next?
Milwaukee will host the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday in Fiserv Forum at 9 p.m. ET. Atlanta will welcome the Indiana Pacers into town on Sunday at 1 p.m.
With 17 games remaining on their 2020-21 season, the Philadelphia 76ers control their destiny. They assured as much with Wednesday's 123-117 triumph over the Brooklyn Nets , giving ...
Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo Has No Timetable to Return from Knee Injury
Apr 11, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo watches from the bench during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets Friday, April 9, 2021, in Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo didn't play because of an injury. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss an indefinite amount of time with a knee injury, head coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters Sunday.
Budenholzer, on Giannis Antetokounmpo: "He did some stuff at shootaround, so I think he's in a good place and making progress, but won't play tonight."
Me: Do you have a timetable for Antetokounmpo's return? Budenholzer: No.
The 26-year-old went is experiencing left knee soreness and is taking his time to ensure he recovers properly.
The two-time reigning MVP has stayed largely healthy throughout his career. He's intermittently missed time this season, most recently because of a nagging knee injury, but nothing has kept him on the shelf for a significant period.
The Bucks have been lucky in that regard, as LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, Kevin Durant and several other notable players have missed extended time for their teams.
Antetokounmpo is averaging 28.8 points, 11.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists in 45 games this season.
Stephen Curry Drops 41 as Warriors Beat Bucks with Giannis Injured
Apr 7, 2021
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 6: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 6, 2021 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
Stephen Curry scored 41 points as the Golden State Warriors upset the visiting Milwaukee Bucks 122-121 on Tuesday at Chase Center in San Francisco.
The Bucks were without reigning back-to-back NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was sidelined with left knee soreness.
Kelly Oubre Jr. hit a pair of free throws to give the Dubs a one-point edge with 7.7 seconds left.
Golden State's defense then came up big as Andrew Wiggins blocked Khris Middleton's game-winning three-point shot attempt with 3.7 seconds remaining.
Bucks guard Pat Connaughton got the offensive rebound but missed his shot attempt.
The 32-18 Bucks now sit third in the Eastern Conference and fell 2.5 games behind the 35-16 Brooklyn Nets, who lead the East. The 24-27 Warriors broke a three-game losing streak.
Notable Performances
Bucks G/F Khris Middleton: 28 points, 7 assists
Bucks G Jrue Holiday: 29 points, 5 assists
Bucks F Bobby Portis: 13 points, 13 rebounds
Warriors PG Stephen Curry: 41 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists
Warriors SG Kelly Oubre Jr.: 19 points, 6 rebounds
Warriors C James Wiseman: 13 points, 10 rebounds
Curry Wills Warriors to Win
The Warriors may have entered this game as losers of seven of their last eight, but Curry appears determined to put Golden State on a winning path en route to a potential playoff berth.
He was simply sensational for the Warriors, scoring his 41 points on 14-of-21 shooting (5-of-10 from three-point range).
The point guard's efforts helped rookie big man James Wiseman have a big first half (11 points, 10 rebounds). He found Wiseman early for a dunk:
He later added a three-pointer with time winding down in the third quarter to give himself 19 points in the frame and 30 points before the fourth. Plus, Curry made history along the way:
With this trey, Steph is now the ONLY player in @NBA history to have eight seasons with 200+ made threes 👌 pic.twitter.com/lbuhBLezGD
Curry stayed invincible in the fourth, nailing a deep three-pointer to bring the Warriors within two points despite seven-foot center Brook Lopez flying at him:
The 12-year NBA veteran then gave the Warriors some much-needed insurance by hitting a 21-foot two-pointer to give Golden State a 120-117 advantage.
Milwaukee then responded with a pair of Khris Middleton free throws and a Jrue Holiday bucket, but Oubre's free throws put the Warriors over the top.
Ultimately, it was Curry who put the Warriors in position for the win as they look to stay in the top 10 in the West.
Bucks Blow Big Lead Sans Giannis
The storylines for this game appeared to be written with four minutes left in the fourth quarter.
First, Khris Middleton scored 14 of the Bucks' 38 third-quarter points to give Milwaukee a five-point edge going into the final 12 minutes. Then Jrue Holiday added his name into the mix with back-to-back threes to give the Bucks a 116-106 lead with four minutes remaining.
At that point, a win appeared to be a formality, with credit going to Middleton and Holiday for carrying the offense in Antetokounmpo's absence.
But then everything that could go wrong did for the Bucks.
Milwaukee proceeded to finish the game shooting 1-of-7 with one turnover. Meanwhile, the Warriors made six field goals (three from Curry, one each from Oubre, Bazemore and Wiggins) to help propel themselves into the lead.
The Bazemore layup was a heartbreaker in particular, as the ball hung on the back rim and appeared to be falling out before dropping into the hoop:
Credit to the Bucks for fighting back and taking the late one-point lead, but it wasn't meant to be with Oubre hitting the final two free throws and Wiggins coming up big on the other end.
Despite missing Antetokounmpo, this is a tough loss to swallow for the Bucks, especially considering that they had a 10-point lead with under four minutes remaining.
They have an outside chance at obtaining the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed, and a win would have pulled them to 1.5 games back of Brooklyn for first.
Instead, the Bucks' path just got harder after a tough four minutes down the stretch.
What's Next?
The Warriors will host the Washington Wizards on Friday at 10 p.m. ET. Milwaukee will visit the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday at 9 p.m. in American Airlines Center.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Jokes He Does 'Bitcoin' for a Living in TikTok Video
Apr 5, 2021
PORTLAND, OREGON - APRIL 02: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts in the second quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on April 02, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
Giannis Antetokounmpo has a long basketball career ahead of him, but he could have his post-NBA plans sorted.
The Milwaukee Bucks star was approached by TikTok user @itsdanielmac, who was intrigued by the Rolls Royce he was riding in and didn't seem to recognize the two-time MVP. He asked him what he does for a living, and Antetokounmpo didn't exactly answer honestly:
Giannis' brother Thanasis, who also plays for the Bucks, told at least part of the truth, though.
"No man, we just work hard," he said.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Out for Bucks vs. Kings Because of Knee Injury
Apr 4, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo dribbles during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio SpursSaturday, March 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
"Just understanding big picture, wanting him to feel as healthy and whole and everything as we go forward," Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters regarding Antetokounmpo's absence pregame.
"Tonight, with what he's feeling and everything that's happened over the last seven to 10 days, I think him not playing is the wise move."
The 26-year-old is once again putting up a monster season. Through 45 games, he's averaging 28.8 points, 11.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists while shooting 56.5 percent from the floor.
A third straight MVP award could still prove elusive nonetheless, due in no small part to voter fatigue. He set such a high standard in 2018-19 and 2019-20 that simply maintaining that level may not be enough to impress the people who have a say in the NBA's postseason honors.
However, the five-time All-Star might be happy to lose out in the MVP race if he helps the Bucks to their first NBA championship since 1971 in exchange.
Antetokounmpo's importance to Milwaukee goes without saying. As much as general manager Jon Horst has done to improve the supporting cast, the franchise will go as far as its best player can take it.
With that in mind, an injury to the Greek Freak isn't the worst thing in the world for the Bucks right now as long as he's good to go for the postseason.
Giannis, Bucks Cruise Past Lakers After Andre Drummond Injury
Apr 1, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) blocks a shot by Los Angeles Lakers center Montrezl Harrell (15) during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 31, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Milwaukee Bucks broke a three-game losing streak Wednesday by defeating the host Los Angeles Lakers 112-97 at the Staples Center.
Jrue Holiday led the Bucks with 28 points, and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 25. Both excelled on the defensive end, with Antetokounmpo blocking three shots and Holiday adding four steals.
Their efforts helped Milwaukee outscore L.A. 65-45 over the second and third quarters. The Bucks also led by as many as 20 in the second half.
Andre Drummond made his debut for the Lakers and had four points and a rebound in 14 minutes. He exited in the third quarter with a right big toe contusion, but X-rays were negative, per Lakers reporter Mike Trudell. Drummond also spoke with reporters postgame:
Andre Drummond said Brook Lopez stepped on his foot in 1st Q, and it was bothering him more and more until he eventually looked at it at halftime, and noticed that his whole toenail was gone.
Drummond said he was happy to see that the X-Ray was negative, and said that it was going to be a day-to-day thing, where he’s icing and wrapping the toenail.
He added that it is very painful … he has sandals on at the moment as a result.
Giannis Dominates on Both Ends in Double-Digit Win
The once-hot Bucks entered Los Angeles as losers of three straight after winning 13 of 14 contests prior to that stretch.
Granted, one of those games was a six-point loss to the New York Knicks that saw the Bucks rest their stars, but that defeat was bordered by an eight-point loss to the under-.500 Boston Celtics and an ugly 24-point letdown to the Los Angeles Clippers.
That streak is in the rearview mirror after an excellent performance Wednesday, albeit against the shorthanded Lakers.
Antetokounmpo propelled the Bucks with some excellent play on both ends.
On defense, he gave Drummond a rude welcome to purple and gold with this early block:
Antetokounmpo ultimately enjoyed an efficient night, shooting 8-of-13 from the field and 8-of-10 from the free-throw line. He did commit nine turnovers, but his 10 boards and four assists helped make that fact irrelevant in a 15-point win.
Shorthanded Lakers Can't Buy Luck After Drummond Injury
As Trudell noted midgame, the Lakers were playing their 20th straight contest without Davis and sixth consecutive matchup sans James. Losing those two obviously leave a lot of production to replace, and the Lakers have naturally struggled without the duo, going 2-5 since James was hurt midgame against the Atlanta Hawks.
Picking up Drummond as a free agent after the Cleveland Cavaliers bought him out was a solid pickup for a team looking for more production down low. At the very least, he could help in the scoring and rebounding departments in lieu of Davis not being on the floor.
Unfortunately, Drummond's debut lasted only 14 minutes after he left in the third quarter with the toe injury. Trudell described the scene: "Drummond was getting the toe worked on/taped up just before the third quarter started, and Montrezl Harrell played the first few minutes before Drummond replaced him at the 9:29 mark. Harrell returned to replace Drummond soon after, at the 7:55 mark."
He didn't fare well before then with his four points coming on 2-of-6 shooting.
Still, the 27-year-old big man is a two-time All-Star averaged 17.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game entering Wednesday, and there may have been some rust with the Cavs sitting him since mid-February in hopes of finding a trading partner before the March 25 deadline. That never happened, leading to the buyout.
At any rate, it was encouraging that Vogel said pregame to reporters that Drummond would play normal starter minutes, so his conditioning appears up to par.
But the Lakers can only hope this injury isn't a long-term problem for Drummond as the team begins a seven-game road trip featuring five teams at or above .500.
What's Next?
Both teams will be on the road on Friday at 10 p.m. ET.
The Lakers will visit the Sacramento Kings at the Golden 1 Center, and the Portland Trail Blazers will host the Bucks at the Moda Center.
