More on Giannis Antetokounmpo Injury
Jeff Zillgitt: Bucks All-NBA forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is making progress but remains a game-time decision, Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer just told reporters.
Duane Rankin: Giannis game-time decision, says Mike Budenholzer. #Suns #Bucks #NBAPlayoffs #NBAFinals
Kellan Olson: Giannis Antetokounmpo testing out that left knee pregame pic.twitter.com/EmitlIjikd
Austin Kent: Giannis Antetokounmpo still listed as 'questionable' as of the 5:30 PM injury report. We're now three hours away from Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Who are we rooting for?
Mike Vorkunov: Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry says it's up to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the team's medical staff if he'll play in Game 1 of the Finals against the Suns. "I'm pretty sure he'll play in the series," he said on CNBC today. "The question is when."
Mark Medina: Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said Giannis Antetokounmpo "had a good day and is making good progress." But Budenholzer said he doesn't have an expectation on if he will play in Game 1 or not. Budenholzer added it's not clear to what extent Giannis will partake in today's practice
Mark Medina: Bucks' Khris Middleton on supporting Giannis Antetokounmpo during his injury: "I tell him to do what's best for himself and his family." Middleton stressed they don't want Giannis to rush back
Gerald Bourguet: Monty Williams said the Suns are preparing for Giannis Antetokounmpo to play, but they have a backup plan in case he doesn't. Either way, he said the Bucks have been attacking the paint lately with or without him
Ben Golliver: Mike Budenholzer says Bucks will approach Giannis Antetokounmpo's availability for the NBA Finals as a "day to day" thing and that Giannis, Bud, GM Jon Horst & sports performance team will be involved in the decision. Says Giannis was "dying to be out there" in Games 5 & 6.
Malika Andrews: Giannis Antetokounmpo was able do some work on the court today, Mike Budenholzer says. It is the first time he has done so since injuring his knee.
Chris Haynes: Thereβs belief Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) would be given the green light for a potential Game 7 if Hawks avoid elimination in Game 6 on Saturday, league sources tell @YahooSports.
Jim Owczarski: Giannis Antetokounmpo gets a round of applause as he came out to sit on the bench and watch his #Bucks teammates warm up about eight minutes before the game starts.
Malika Andrews: Mike Budenholzer said Giannis Antetokounmpo did work in the weight room at shoot around this morning, but didnβt do any on-court work. Budenholzer expects him to be in the building tonight.
Shams Charania: Official: Giannis Antetokounmpo is out tonight.
Lori Nickel: "The fall, the injury, the second half," it was all very hard on everyone. But: Even if he doesn't play @Giannis Antetokounmpo will have a large impact on Game 5. "Amazingly Giannis finds a way to lift people up," said Budenholzer. Bud really seems to be trying to lighten up the mood.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo sustained a hyperextended left knee and will be listed as doubtful for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals tomorrow night at Fiserv Forum. The injury occurred in the third period of the Bucksβ Game 4 loss at Atlanta last night.
Antetokounmpo, 26, underwent an MRI and subsequent examination today by team physician Dr. Carole Vetter of the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network. The MRI confirmed the earlier diagnosis.
Zach Lowe: There is no structural damage to Giannis Antetokounmpo's left knee after his awkward landing last night in Atlanta; ligaments are sound, sources tell @Adrian Wojnarowski and I. Timetable to return is unclear.
Bogdan Bogdanovic: Prayers up for my guy @Giannis Antetokounmpo ππ½
Trae Young: Sending my thoughts & prayers to @Giannis Antetokounmpo ππ½ππ½ππ½
Bradley Beal: Prayers up @Giannis Antetokounmpo !!!
Malika Andrews: Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to undergo further imaging on his left knee tomorrow, sources told ESPN.
Eric Nehm: Bud, on GA on bench: βI just know historically itβs impossible to keep him off the court. Itβs impossible to keep him away from his teammates, keep him away from his team. My guess is he probably wants to try to play and if not let his teammates know that heβs there for them.β
Ja Morant: f*** injuries dawg
Jim Owczarski: #Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer said he has no further update on Giannis Antetokounmpo outside of the left knee hyperextension. Budenholzer is not aware of any imaging done on the two-time MVP at this point.
Eric Nehm: Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer with no further update on Giannis Antetokounmpo after the game. βHe was in the locker room with the guys and addressed the group.β - Budenholzer
Tom Haberstroh: If Giannis misses any games due to injury, heβd be the 10th All-Star who has been sidelined for at least 1 game this postseason. Anthony Davis James Harden Kyrie Irving Kawhi Leonard Donovan Mitchell Joel Embiid Mike Conley Jaylen Brown Chris Paul Previous playoff-high was *6*
Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo left Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Hawks with an apparent injury to his left knee. He will not return to Tuesday night's game, per the Bucks. Antetokounmpo fell to the ground after he hyperextended his left knee when colliding with Atlanta's Clint Capela early in the third quarter. He was helped off the court and went to the locker room with the team trainer and his brother and teammate, Thanasis Antetokounmpo.
Jeff Stotts: Re: Giannis: He clearly hyperextended the left knee but multiple structures can be injured with this mechanism. It is worth noting he previously sprained the joint capsule in this same knee in March of 2020. Hoping he somehow avoided significant injury.
LeBron James: Awww nah man! WTF @Giannis_An34
RJ Hampton: prayers up for Giannis
Tim Bontemps: Giannis Antetokounmpo is in the starting lineup, as expected, after dealing with calf tightness and being listed as probable on the injury report. No changes to the starters on ether side.
Malika Andrews: Giannis Antetokounmpo is working through some calf tightness. Mike Budenholzer said that heβs been getting treatment, βbut I think heβs going to be fine.β Antetokounmpo will start in Game 3 against Atlanta tonight, Budenholzer said.
Jim Owczarski: Giannis Antetokounmpo is probable to play tonight for the #Bucks with left calf tightness while Bogdan BogdanoviΔ is questionable with right knee soreness for the #Hawks
Jim Owczarski: #Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has a sleeve on his left calf for warmups.
Barry Jackson: Giannis Antetokounmpo probable for Game 4 with groin soreness. No Heat player on injury report except Oladipo, who's out after surgery
Adrian Wojnarowski: Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo will return to lineup vs. Brooklyn today (3:30 PM ET, ABC), sources tell ESPN. The two-time MVP left Thursday's game with right ankle sprain and missed Friday's victory over Bulls. NBA Countdown w/ @MariaTaylor, @Jalen Rose and me at 3 ET on ABC.
Eric Nehm: Bucks injury report for tomorrow's game against the Nets: Giannis Antetokounmpo - probable - right ankle sprain
Eric Nehm: The Bucks have submitted an injury report for tonight's game against the Hawks, the second night of a back-to-back obviously. Giannis Antetokounmpo - Questionable (left knee soreness) Donte DiVincenzo - Question (right toe soreness)
Eric Nehm: Per Mike Budenholzer, Giannis Antetokounmpo is OUT for today's game against the Timberwolves.
Jim Owczarski: Some good news for the #Bucks on the court - head coach Mike Budenholzer said Giannis Antetokounmpo and P.J. Tucker participated fully in practice today. In terms of playing vs. the #Timberwolves, that will depend on how they respond to the work today.
The scene was quite familiar to fans who have watched the Bucksβ starters celebrate their teammatesβ 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.
βWe were talking about it before the game,β Middleton said after putting up 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists in Sundayβs win. βHe said he hasnβt missed this many games in a row in his career. Heβs itching to get back out, so hopefully heβll be back out there soon.β
Following shootaround before the Pacers game, The Athletic asked Connaughton about Antetokounmpoβs impressive ability to stay healthy throughout his career and why he has always been able to return to the floor quickly after an injury. βWork ethic,β Connaughton said. βI feel like the misnomer is when you get injured, you need rest, like your body will heal itself and what Iβve seen since Iβve been in the NBA is that is actually the opposite.β
Throughout his time in Milwaukee, Budenholzer has often used the term βaggressively cautiousβ in regards to how they attempt to manage injuries as an organization. Antetokounmpoβs injury has proven to be an interesting test to that greater philosophy. When Antetokounmpo initially sustained the injury, the Bucks diagnosed it as a βleft knee sprainβ 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 βleft knee sorenessβ. 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. βMostly no, but to say we are not aware of what you kind of described would not be accurate either,β Budenholzer said before losing to the Hornets with a short-handed roster on Apr. 9. βI think weβre just mostly conscious about trying to keep our guys healthyβ¦I would say itβs just way more trying to see how our guys are feeling, what theyβre 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 Bucksβ injury report for tomorrowβs game against the Celtics. The Bucksβ 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: Todayβs 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 Mondayβs game vs. Blazers
Kane Pitman: Giannis says he felt lost being stuck on the sidelines: βI would play with one leg if I had to..I donβt care.β Says he wanted to play but he respects the organisation putting his health over the game and says βthatβs big for me.β
Kane Pitman: Budenholzer on GA: We couldnβt let Giannis go out there. Heβs not ready, heβs not healthy, we canβt 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..β
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 (π₯ @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 Bucksβ Game 5 against the Heat. pic.twitter.com/aUYO6he8bd
Anthony Chiang: Bucks listing Giannis Antetokounmpo (sprained right ankle) as questionable for tomorrowβs 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 Milwaukeeβs 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 Heatβs Andre Iguodala β yet another aggressive move in what had been a dominant start β 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 couldnβt see. βAaaaaah,β he howled. βAaaahhh. Fuucck!β
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 βsee how he does over the next 24-48 hoursβ to determine his status for Game 5. βWhen he went down,β Budenholzer said, βAll our hearts just stopped for a second.β
Ben Golliver: Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said βno considerationβ 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.
