Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo sustained a right ankle sprain and didn’t return to Game 4 against the Heat on Sunday.
The injury occurred as Antetokounmpo landed awkwardly while attacking the basket during the second quarter, and it’s the same ankle he injured during Game 3 on Friday. He was previously listed as questionable to play in the contest.
“When he went down,” coach Mike Budenholzer said (as relayed by ESPN’s Malika Andrews), “all our hearts just stopped for a second.”
Prior to exiting the game, Antetokounmpo recorded 19 points and four rebounds in over 11 minutes of work, attacking the basket and playing noticeably aggressively with hopes of leading his team to victory. He encouraged the Bucks to tape up the ankle and let him return, but he couldn’t jump or plant off the sprain, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Antetokounmpo later left the arena in a walking boot, Andrews adds in a separate tweet.
Despite losing their star player, the Bucks still rallied to win 118-115 in overtime to keep their season alive. They were led by Khris Middleton (36 points), Eric Bledsoe (14 points, six assists) and Brook Lopez (14 points, five rebounds). Game 5 will be played on Tuesday night, with nobody around Milwaukee daring to rule Antetokounmpo out yet, Wojnarowski adds.
Such a sad way for his season to end.
Bucks are a sub 500 team without him, he’s gonna end up being like the rest of the superstars in the league and either demand another superstar to pair up with or go elsewhere. Middleton is an elite 3rd option in the league but not a 2nd option.
Middleton won the bucks game 4. Not saying they win the series but not many “3rd options” go for 36-8-8
Middleton is not the problem he is a good Robin to Batman. Biggest problem is Bledso does not fit with The Greek freak . They need to trade him this offseason . Gaines should work on his mid range game in the offseason if he wants to reach his true potential.
Giannis should be kept away until the last 20 games or so, depending on how long the season will be operating. Let the team learn to live without him based around Middleton. Then add him for the playoffs. Up to now he has rarely missed a game. What can Silver say. Blame Kawhi who may score another title headlining load management. Lebron at 35 has to play every game or people complain and say he just cares about movies.
He will always have his two regular season MVP’s.
He is 25. I think he might get another shot.
They probably should of kept Brogdon
Quick, how many seasons has Brogdon NOT missed a significant amount of time?
Good player, but hasn’t been healthy enough to warrant the kind of contract he got. And he proved it again this year.
All the series are tied right now except for the Bucks.
Everyone thought they were going to coast to the Finals and here they are about to be the first team to get knocked out in round 2. Poor Giannis.
After struggling against Boston and getting beat by Toronto in last year’s playoffs, and having trouble with Miami in the REGULAR season, as well as getting manhandled by Philly on Christmas (where Embid owned Giannis, and Giannis kept going at him believing he’d get a different result..) nobody should have thought they’d coast to the Finals.
HWM exaggerates routinely. I don’t recall reading that it would be easy; just a popular pick, as having the best record would inspire.
At 25 Giannis has more than 95% of basketball players. In the history of the game. Look it up. Bunch of bandwagon fans. Everyone loses, you writing his career off already. Bron didn’t win first ring till 27. MJ was 27. Bird was 25-26. Magic won (21) young cause he came to a loaded Laker team. Relax none of these players I just mentioned. Have put numbers like Giannis by 25, 2 MVPs, DPY. So let’s just breathe a little. Bucks are not a half court team. Not their strength. And coach does not adjust. It’s why Heat have been able to slow them n Giannis down. You can’t dribble thru team. Waiting for you to do just that. Giannis should be posting more. Cause no one on Heat can handle him on blocks. You run when you can. You can’t force it. Plus IMO they should have a lead PG. like Rondo or Chris. Who can get him ball in easy places.There is a reason he’s called the Freak. But no one can take on whole team. You saw the easy shots Rondo got for Lakers. You saw Chris do it for Thunder. That’s what he needs. He should be playing pick n roll with PG. like Stockton to Malone. Or Nash to Amare. Bucks coach sucks. I doubt he plays next gm. He needs rest. If there is a gm 6. He’ll be back. Bucks had best record in East in NBA. They should not get swept or go down in 5. Even without Giannis. They should be able to win 2 gms. Giannis has 10 yrs to win Titles. Let’s just relax a little.