The Milwaukee Bucks got a double black eye Sunday night. Not only did the Miami Heat upset the Bucks in the series opener at home, 130-117, but they also saw their best player apparently suffer a back injury. The team announced Giannis Antetokounmpo was out for the remainder the contest before halftime.
Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer brought some good news following the game with regard to Antetokounmpo's status, (h/t Jamal Collier of ESPN).
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer says Giannis Antetokounmpo had an X-ray that came back “clear.” “We’ll monitor him and see how he wakes up tomorrow.”
That leaves the door open for a potential quick return to action by Giannis. It could be as soon as Game 2 of this first-round series in the Eastern Conference on Wednesday. Before the injury, Antetokounmpo scored only six points on 2-for-4 shooting with three rebounds and a turnover in 11 minutes.
With the Greek Freak out for most of Game 1, Khris Middleton tried to put the Bucks on his shoulders. He finished with a team-high 33 points on 12-for-20 shooting along with nine rebounds and four assists. Bobby Portis also had an increased role and had 21 points on 9-for-15 shooting and eight rebounds in 27 minutes. In the event that Giannis Antetokounmpo is ruled out for Game 2, Middleton and Portis stand to see expanded roles again with Jrue Holiday also likely to see more shots.
The Bucks and the Heat play the second game of the series in Milwaukee on Wednesday.
Follow Us
Subscribe