Two-time NBA MVP and Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was initially listed as doubtful on the Game 2 injury report against the Miami Heat.
The Greek Freak suffered a lower-back contusion in Milwaukee’s series-opening loss on Sunday and did not return after exiting with less than two minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Giannis was updgraded to questionable in the lead up to Wednesday’s huge home outing against Miami in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
We now have official word on Antetokounmpo’s status as the Bucks look to even the series up at one. It’s not good news for the Bucks. He will not suit up Wednesday night against Miami.
On Tuesday, Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer expressed optimism that the NBA MVP finalist would be able to go.
“We have 24-plus hours before game time, so he’ll get treatment. And we’ll see how he feels. I think there has been a lot of progress and hopefully there’s more in the next day or so,” Budenholzer on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s status.
Something obviously changed within the past 24 hours. Antetokounmpo is among the biggest difference-makers in the NBA today. Milwaukee posted an 11-8 record when he was sidelined during the regular season. The team was 47-16 with Giannis on the court.
Giannis Antetokounmpo stats (2022-23): 31.1 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 5.7 APG, 55% shooting
With Antetokounmpo now slated to miss yet another game, this could be a huge problem for Milwaukee. It gave up 130 points to an offensively-challenged Heat team in a home loss this past Sunday. Another defeat would send this game back to Miami with Milwaukee facing a 2-0 series hole. You don’t need to be a genius to realize that this would put the Bucks behind the proverbial eight-ball.
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Offensively, the Bucks will not be able to run their offense through Antetokounmpo. It faltered at times outside of the performances of Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday, the latter of whom had a whopping 16 assists. Holiday will now have to take on more of a scoring role after he shot a mere 6-of-18 in Game 1.