“We were talking about it before the game,” Middleton said after putting up 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists in Sunday’s win. “He said he hasn’t missed this many games in a row in his career. He’s itching to get back out, so hopefully he’ll be back out there soon.”
More on Giannis Antetokounmpo Injury
The scene was quite familiar to fans who have watched the Bucks’ starters celebrate their teammates’ success at the end of blowout victories in the last two seasons with one notable exception: Antetokounmpo was not wearing a jersey. Instead, Antetokounmpo was wearing a black Bucks hooded sweatshirt and a pair of black joggers as he watched from the sidelines as he missed his fifth consecutive game because of left knee soreness.
Following shootaround before the Pacers game, The Athletic asked Connaughton about Antetokounmpo’s impressive ability to stay healthy throughout his career and why he has always been able to return to the floor quickly after an injury. “Work ethic,” Connaughton said. “I feel like the misnomer is when you get injured, you need rest, like your body will heal itself and what I’ve seen since I’ve been in the NBA is that is actually the opposite.”
Throughout his time in Milwaukee, Budenholzer has often used the term “aggressively cautious” in regards to how they attempt to manage injuries as an organization. Antetokounmpo’s injury has proven to be an interesting test to that greater philosophy. When Antetokounmpo initially sustained the injury, the Bucks diagnosed it as a “left knee sprain” and sat him for the next game. After that his name no longer appeared on the injury report, but then he looked passive against the Celtics before missing another game against the Knicks due to “left knee soreness”. Antetokounmpo once again came off the injury report for the start of the west coast trip before ultimately landing on the injury report again following the game in Portland and missing the following five games.
With 17 games left to play, just three games separate them from the Nets and 76ers at the top of the Eastern Conference and 4.5 games separate them from the fourth-place Hawks. Budenholzer, however, claims the standings do not come into play in their decision-making in regards to playing Antetokounmpo or any of their players while injured. “Mostly no, but to say we are not aware of what you kind of described would not be accurate either,” Budenholzer said before losing to the Hornets with a short-handed roster on Apr. 9. “I think we’re just mostly conscious about trying to keep our guys healthy…I would say it’s just way more trying to see how our guys are feeling, what they’re doing and less about standings and different things like that.
Brad Townsend: 12:30 injury report still lists Giannis as doubtful for Bucks tonight. For Dallas, Burke is probable, Kleber is questionable, out are Redick, Cauley-Stein and Terry. No mention of Porzingis, which presumably means he's available tonight.
Eric Nehm: Bucks injury report for Thursday night's game against the Mavericks: - Giannis Antetokounmpo - doubtful (left knee soreness) - P.J. Tucker - OUT (left calf strain)
Eric Nehm: Giannis Antetokounmpo is not on the Bucks’ injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Celtics. The Bucks’ injury report: Bryn Forbes - Probable (right toe sprain) PJ Tucker - Doubtful (left calf strain) Rodions Kurucs - OUT (abdominal strain)
Jim Owczarski: Giannis Antetokounmpo will start tonight for the #Bucks vs. the #Celtics. He missed the last game with a left knee sprain.
Kane Pitman: Milwaukee injury report update for tomorrow vs. Boston. Giannis Antetokounmpo - Questionable (left knee sprain) Bryn Forbes - Questionable (right toe sprain) PJ Tucker - Probable (left ankle sprain)
Eric Nehm: How long do you expect Giannis to be out? Budenholzer: "We're hoping it's shorter rather than longer, but we'll see how these first 48 to 72 hours go and then we'll know more then."
Scott Agness: Bucks will be without Giannis Antetokounmpo (left knee sprain) tonight vs Pacers. Late tip-off on NBA TV. 9pm ET.
Eric Nehm: Today’s injury report lists Giannis Antetokounmpo as probable with a right knee contusion. He banged knees on Saturday, but finished the game.
Jamie Hudson: Bucks Injury Report: Giannis Antetokounmpo (right knee; contusion) is probable for Monday’s game vs. Blazers
Kane Pitman: Giannis says he felt lost being stuck on the sidelines: “I would play with one leg if I had to..I don’t care.” Says he wanted to play but he respects the organisation putting his health over the game and says “that’s big for me.”
Kane Pitman: Budenholzer on GA: We couldn’t let Giannis go out there. He’s not ready, he’s not healthy, we can’t put him at risk. Giannis would always play, he wants to be there for his teammates so really, really hard for Giannis but I think it was pretty clear for everyone except Giannis..”
Shams Charania: Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is out for Game 5 vs. Miami with right ankle sprain, sources tell @The Athletic @Stadium.
NBA Central: Giannis warming up (🎥 @Tim Reynolds) pic.twitter.com/rJs5b5NMxl
Eric Nehm: Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer says Giannis Antetokounmpo is doing everything he can to make himself available, but there is no decision yet. He will be a game-time decision.
Ira Winderman: Mike Budenholzer on Giannis, "He continues to do everything to continue his rehab to make himself available." As expected, decision expected closer to 6:30 p.m. tip.
Malika Andrews: Giannis Antetokounmpo arrives at the arena ahead of the Bucks’ Game 5 against the Heat. pic.twitter.com/aUYO6he8bd
Anthony Chiang: Bucks listing Giannis Antetokounmpo (sprained right ankle) as questionable for tomorrow’s Game 5. Heat listing Jae Crowder (left ankle sprain), Tyler Herro (right hip bruise) and Kelly Olynyk (right knee bruise) as questionable. Chris Silva (groin) remains out.
There's currently no update on the status of reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo for Game 5 after he reinjured his sprained right ankle in the first half of Game 4, but he certainly will try to suit up -- if possible. The Milwaukee Bucks now trail 3-1 to the Miami Heat in their Eastern Conference semifinals series after rallying for an overtime win Sunday without Antetokounmpo. "Giannis is, like we've said, he's just getting treatment around the clock, doing everything he can to make himself available," said Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer following Monday's practice. "On the court, we walked through a couple defensive things, a couple offensive things, just kinda stationary in the half court; he was able to participate in that. But -- I think it wasn't much, so I wouldn't read too much into that."
Nick Friedell: Iguodala on Heat's expectation for Giannis/Game 5: "We anticipate him playing, being ready to go. Being the force that he is, being the MVP player that he is. We got to be able to adjust with him ... we just got to have the mental focus being able to lock in."
Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had been mostly missing from Milwaukee’s first three games in this one-sided Eastern Conference semifinal series against Miami, drove the lane that sits perpendicular to the primetime press row early in the second quarter on Sunday night. He banged against the Heat’s Andre Iguodala — yet another aggressive move in what had been a dominant start — and let out a scream before vanishing behind the padded barrier when he fell. From our vantage point, what you heard from approximately 15 feet away was far more telling than what you couldn’t see. “Aaaaaah,” he howled. “Aaaahhh. Fuucck!”
Marc J. Spears: Injured #Bucks star @Giannis Antetokounmpo walked out of the arena wearing a protective boot over his injured right ankle.
Adrian Wojnarowski: After leaving Game 4, Giannis Antetokounmpo was encouraging the Bucks to tape up his right ankle and let him return -- but he couldn't plant or jump off the sprain, per sources. Around the Bucks, many didn't expect he could play today. No one dares rule him out yet for Game 5.
Malika Andrews: Mike Budenholzer said that Giannis will get treatment and they will “see how he does over the next 24-48 hours” to determine his status for Game 5. “When he went down,” Budenholzer said, “All our hearts just stopped for a second.”
Ben Golliver: Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said “no consideration” given to bringing Giannis Antetokounmpo (right ankle sprain) back into Game 4 win over Heat & no update yet on Game 5 status.
Lori Nickel: Budenholzer on Giannis: "I hope it's not lost what he did in those first 10 or 12 minutes on an ankle is not fully 100 percent, he was phenomenal to start the game and gave us a huge boost. And when he went down you know all our hearts... They stopped for a second."
Eric Nehm: Final: Bucks 118, Heat 115 Down in the series 3-1, but somehow pull one out without Antetokounmpo for the final three quarters. Middleton with 36 in 48 minutes.
Malika Andrews: Giannis Antetokounmpo has been diagnosed with a right ankle sprain and is out for the game, per team.
Ben Golliver: Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo down on the baseline after a drive. He screamed a profanity in pain and appeared to hold right ankle, which he sprained in Game 3. Entire team huddled around him as he gets up. He is being helped by his brother Thanasis and George Hill to the sideline
Kane Pitman: Bucks assistant coach Charles Lee seen mouthing “God damn” as Giannis yells in pain on the ground. The disaster continues for Milwaukee.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo (right ankle sprain) is planning to play in Game 4 today vs. Miami, sources tell ESPN. (Tip is on ABC, 3:30 PM ET)
Anthony Chiang: Bucks announce that Giannis Antetokounmpo will play today.
Anthony Chiang: Mike Budenholzer says Giannis is warming up and testing his injured ankle. But no final decision on Giannis' status for Game 4 yet. Budenholzer: "He's giving it everything he can to be available."
Malika Andrews: Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is listed as questionable with a right ankle sprain, is out on the court warming up ahead of Game 4. Mike Budenholzer and general manager Jon Horst are looking on. Budenholzer doesn’t typically watch warm ups.
Anthony Chiang: On 5:30 p.m. injury report: Heat listing Tyler Herro (right hip bruise) as probable, Kelly Olynyk (right knee bruise) as questionable and Chris Silva (groin) as out for Sunday’s Game 4. Bucks listing Giannis Antetokounmpo (sprained right ankle) as questionable.
Reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo put up 21 points with 16 rebounds and 9 assists, but he struggled down the stretch against a tough Miami defense, going 7-for-21 from the field with three turnovers in 34 minutes, 54 seconds. Despite tweaking his right ankle in the opening quarter, and seemingly grimacing throughout the contest on certain plays, Antetokounmpo said he felt "great" and that "it wasn't bothering me at all." "I feel great," Antetokounmpo said. "I could play more."
Malika Andrews: The Bucks announce that Giannis Antetokounmpo sustained a minor joint capsule sprain in his left knee against the Lakers. He will miss the remaining two games of the team's road trip.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is getting a precautionary MRI on his left knee, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Saturday. The Bucks listed him as doubtful for Sunday's game against Phoenix with left knee soreness.
Matt Velazquez: Can confirm the @Adrian Wojnarowski report Giannis is undergoing a precautionary MRI on his left knee today. He was noticeably limping after the game following a hard, awkward fall in the fourth quarter.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo is getting a precautionary MRI on his left knee, league sources tell ESPN. The MVP landed hard on the floor and tweaked the knee in second half of the loss to the Lakers Friday night, but stayed in the game.
Malika Andrews: After Giannis Antetokounmpo took a scary fall in the fourth quarter that left him clutching his knee, Mike Budenholzer said he thinks Giannis is “okay.” Budenholzer said he will speak to the team’s medical staff after speaking to reporters.
Kane Pitman: Giannis told us he was suffering from cramp in his hamstring late against Denver. He mentioned he has suffered from it on several occasions in the past. Nonetheless, he is listed as questionable for tomorrow against Phoenix due to that hamstring.
Eric Woodyard: Giannis Antetokounmpo returns from a 2-game absence (back) to face the Bulls tonight in his final game of 2019.
Mike McGraw: Giannis (back) is questionable for #Bulls on Monday. He's missed the last two games. Eric Bledsoe has missed last 8 games with fibula fracture, but is listed as probable.
Kane Pitman: Giannis is out back-to-back games for just the fourth time since his rookie season with tonight's withdrawal due to back soreness. He's never missed three games in a row in his career. Milwaukee are in Chicago on Monday night.
Matt Velazquez: Giannis has been upgraded to probable for tonight's game in Memphis.
Kane Pitman: Bud says Giannis has "a little bit of soreness or significant soreness" in that quad. Just based on Bud's words, it would seem that the weekend back-to-back would be in question also.
Matt Velazquez: Giannis Antetokounmpo is out tonight with right quad tendon soreness.
Greece beat Venezuela 74 – 51 in the final of the “Atlas” preparation tournament ahead of the World Cup. It was the last exhibition game for the two teams before the World Cup launch. [...] Greece superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t play in the game due to irritation on his knee, per the Greek Federation.
Malika Andrews: Giannis Antetokounmpo will play tonight, per team.
Kane Pitman: The usuals are all expected to play outside of Giannis today who is out with calf soreness. Budenholzer said he got a knock or a kick in the game against Philadelphia.
Matt Velazquez: Injury updates from Bud Giannis will play. Middleton will not play. Ilyasova (back soreness) joins the group of Brogdon, Mirotic, Snell, Gasol and DiVincenzo as OUT.
Matt Velazquez: Bucks didn't plan on so many guys being out. Giannis was planned due to his right ankle sprain. Things changed when Middleton felt something wrong in his left groin during pregame warmups. Once he couldn't go, Bud decided to sit Bledsoe, too, considering the back-to-back.
Matt Velazquez: Giannis is officially listed as questionable for tomorrow vs. the Hawks. The other five Bucks who have been out (Brogdon, DiVincenzo, Gasol, Mirotic, Snell) remain out.
Giannis Antetokounmpo's troublesome right ankle is acting up again. With just under eight minutes left in the Bucks' Thursday game against the Clippers, Antetokounmpo threw down a dunk that gave his team a 108-91 lead. As he retreated, Antetokounmpo collided with Garrett Temple and fell down clutching his right ankle.
Malika Andrews: Mike Budenholzer said he expects Giannis Antetekounmpo to play today. He warmed up and felt good, Bud said, but had been listed as questionable for today’s game against the Cavaliers.
Michael Gallagher: Giannis Antetokounmpo (right ankle) is listed as questionable tomorrow. Not a B2B either. He had an ankle tweak yesterday and played through it.
Eric Nehm: After the game, Antetokounmpo did confirm it was his ankle that made him go down in the second quarter. When I asked about grabbing his shin, he said, "Usually when you twist your ankle twice so close, the pain goes a little bit higher because you haven't recovered fully."
Matt Velazquez: Giannis is active for tonight’s game vs the Heat.
Matt Velazquez: Sterling Brown and George Hill have been cleared for the Bucks tonight and will play. Giannis Antetokounmpo is out in the court warming up and Bud says they will see how he handles that before making a final decision. The hope is he will be available.
Ira Winderman: After being sidelined, Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as probable for Friday's visit by the Heat, as are George Hill and Sterling Brown.
Marla Ridenour: No Giannis (sprained ankle) tonight for Bucks vs #Cavs
Malika Andrews: Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as questionable with a right ankle sprain for the Bucks game against the Lakers tomorrow.
Matt Velazquez: Bud says Giannis (right knee soreness) is going to play tonight.
Matt Velazquez: Bud says Giannis is feeling good. Expectation is he will be able to play tonight. Said the management in recent games — our vs Chicago and limited vs Sac — isn’t expected to be like that the rest of the season. Trying to get Giannis to where he feels really, really good.
Matt Velazquez: Just got the official thumbs down: Giannis Antetokounmpo is out tonight vs the Bulls.
Matt Velazquez: Giannis Antetokounmpo still officially doubtful as of the most recent injury report. Sterling Brown is also now listed as doubtful with a right wrist injury.
Mike McGraw: Budenholzer said he thinks Giannis is ready to go tonight vs. #Bulls. He missed the previous game on Sat to rest a sore knee.
