The Milwaukee Bucks have jumped out to an impressive 3-0 lead against the Miami Heat in the first round and are suddenly legitimate title contenders. However, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks were dealt a huge blow with the season-ending injury to Donte DiVincenzo.

Unfortunately, this injury could very well put the Bucks' title hopes to rest, even with the impressive brand of basketball they are playing so far in the 2021 playoffs.

After all, DiVincenzo is a starter for Mike Budenholzer's team. He started 66 games during the regular season and provides them with a lot of tools to keep the wins coming. DiVincenzo can shoot the three at a high clip, and averaged a career-high 10.4 points a game in the regular season. Even more, he chipped in 5.8 boards and 3.1 assists, providing the Bucks with a do-it-all type of guy.

Plus, DiVincenzo's defense has been stellar, and this clip from a game against the Nets earlier this season proves that he is tough on the defensive end.

Now, the injury will force Coach Bud to find another option. Could it be Jeff Teague, who got traded from Boston because he was a disappointment? Or perhaps Bryn Forbes- who has somehow been sensational– could step up.

Losing a regular starter in the midst of the playoffs is a crushing blow, and with the Brooklyn Nets likely lined up in a second-round series, it could prove as a dagger for their title hopes and the likely end of the road for Budenholzer's stay in Milwaukee.

The Heat are unlikely to make a miraculous, improbable comeback from a 3-0 deficit, but the Nets trio of James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant is already a headache to deal with with a fully healthy squad.

The time is now for Giannis, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday to step up and lead this team to their promised land of the NBA Finals, a ticket they have been waiting to punch for quite some time. Things are going to be tough, but injuries happen, and if they want to hoist a Larry O'Brien trophy, they will need to do all they can to figure out a way to get by in the tough Eastern Conference.