Giannis Antetokounmpo’s ongoing again concern has dominated him out of Game 3 of Milwaukee’s Eastern Conference first-round playoffs sequence towards Miami.
Saturday’s matchup (Sunday AEST) would be the second full recreation famous person Antetokounmpo has missed within the sequence after additionally sitting out Game 2.
He performed solely 11 minutes of Game 1 earlier than struggling a again contusion and didn’t characteristic on Wednesday in Milwaukee’s series-tying Game 2 victory.
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer stated Antetokounmpo is making progress.
“We’ll continue to monitor him through the day tomorrow, through the day the next day,” Budenholzer stated.
“He’s not in a place where he can go, so we’ll just continue to monitor and work with him and hope for the best.”
Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP and considered one of three finalists – alongside Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid – in competition for the league’s prime particular person trophy this season.
He averaged 31.1 factors this season, fifth-best within the NBA, together with 11.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists.
Antetokounmpo will not be the one massive title coping with harm.
Embiid sat out Philadelphia’s series-clinching win in Brooklyn earlier on Saturday with a sprained proper knee.
The Los Angeles Clippers misplaced to Phoenix and fell right into a 3-1 gap in that sequence after taking part in once more with out Kawhi Leonard and Paul George – each, like Embiid, coping with sprained proper knees.
Miami might be with out final season’s Sixth Man award winner Tyler Herro for a number of weeks due to a damaged hand that was surgically repaired on Friday, whereas Memphis guard Ja Morant has additionally been coping with a proper hand harm.
“Every team, there’s a bond and there’s a desire to be there for each other,” Budenholzer stated.
“That just heightens the competitiveness, heightens the desire when Giannis or Kawhi Leonard or Joel Embiid (is out) and those teammates, they want to be there for a guy when he’s injured and can’t play.
“It’s a bit little bit of that human nature. It’s the playoffs. Hopefully these issues have some constructive influence, however you need to exit and play.”
Without Antetokounmpo in Game 2, the Bucks did not miss a beat.
They led by as many as 36 factors on the best way to a 138-122 victory.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
