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MILWAUKEE —The Giannis Antetokounmpo saga took one other twist Friday when the two-time MVP left the Milwaukee Bucks‘ 102-100 loss to the Denver Nuggets with 34 seconds remaining attributable to a proper calf damage. Antetokounmpo will endure an MRI Saturday and stated that he expects to overlook 4 to 6 weeks, which might hold him out till after the Feb. 5 commerce deadline. An official timeline will probably be decided after he undergoes imaging.
“I used to be feeling it the vast majority of the sport, however didn’t need to cease taking part in. However on the finish I couldn’t transfer. I needed to cease,” Antetokounmpo stated. “For me to cease taking part in and never have the ability to transfer, it was extraordinarily painful.”
Antetokounmpo missed over three weeks in December with a proper soleus (calf muscle) pressure, and was nonetheless on a minutes restriction for Friday’s contest. It is unclear precisely when Antetokounmpo re-aggravated the damage, however he lacked his regular explosiveness all through the evening. Regardless of being restricted bodily, he completed with 22 factors, 13 rebounds and 7 assists on 4 of 8 from the sphere and 14 of 16 from the free throw line.
The Bucks fell behind by as many as 23 early within the fourth quarter, however staged a livid comeback to chop the deficit to 1 within the remaining seconds. Antetokounmpo checked out with 34 seconds remaining, nonetheless, and didn’t return.
“I did not like what my eyes had been seeing, personally,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers stated. “Giannis was defiant about staying in. On that one play you might see him attempting to run down the ground, I had had sufficient. I did not ask, I simply took him out. He really wished to return in. That was a no for me.”
Antetokounmpo has a historical past of calf accidents. Along with the suitable calf pressure that stored him out for 3 weeks earlier this season, he missed over two weeks (and sat out of the All-Star Sport) final season attributable to a left calf pressure. As well as, a left calf pressure stored him out of the ultimate week of the common season and the playoffs in 2024.
“I do not assume it seems nice, personally,” Rivers stated of Antetokounmpo’s newest damage. “This calf retains arising and it is regarding. I am not a health care provider, however I am sensible sufficient to know that his calf retains bothering him and there is one thing that’s there and it retains taking place, and that is troublesome for all of us.”
Antetokounmpo was visibly annoyed at his locker after the sport.
“In all probability the following steps will probably be go to MRI tomorrow, after the MRI they are going to inform me most likely I popped one thing in my calf, or my soleus, one thing. They’re going to most likely give me a protocol of 4 to 6 weeks that I will be out. That is from my expertise being round within the NBA,” Antetokounmpo stated. “After that, I’ll work my butt off to come back again. That can most likely be the tip of February, starting of March. Hopefully the group will probably be in a spot that we will not less than make the Play-In or the playoffs. Simply take it day-by-day, attempt to get higher.”
It stays to be seen how lengthy Antetokounmpo will probably be sidelined, however an prolonged absence can be a serious blow. Friday’s defeat was the sixth within the final eight video games for the Bucks, who are actually a season-worst eight video games beneath .500. At 18-26, they’re in eleventh place within the Jap Convention and a pair of.5 video games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the ultimate Play-In Match spot.
The Bucks don’t management their first-round decide within the 2026 NBA Draft, however they are going to obtain the least favorable of their decide and the New Orleans Pelicans‘ decide. The Pelicans have the second-worst report within the league, which implies it’s doable for the Bucks to get a lottery choice.
Giannis Antetokounmpo commerce rumors: Bucks’ conversations with star participant have ‘intensified,’ per report
Jack Maloney
An prolonged absence for Antetokounmpo wouldn’t solely have an effect on the Bucks’ playoff probabilities, however throw a serious wrench into the commerce deadline plans for the Bucks and quite a few different groups. There was loads of hypothesis about Antetokounmpo’s future forward of the Feb. 5 deadline, and Brian Windhorst reported earlier this week that “Giannis is the commerce deadline … Your complete league is watching Giannis.”
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