New Giannis Injury Update, Latest Rumors on Bucks Star's Knee and Timeline to Return
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has been diagnosed with a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise, per ESPN's Shams Charania. He will be re-evaluated in one week.
Antetokounmpo suffered the injury in the third quarter of a 134-123 win over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday when he came down awkwardly on a dunk in the third quarter.
The two-time MVP missed more than a month with a right calf strain, a recurrence of the injury that sidelined him earlier in the year, and returned on March 2 against the Boston Celtics.
In keeping with how Milwaukee's season has unfolded, the team still got blown out 108-81. Giannis had a double-double (19 points and 11 rebounds) while playing 25 minutes.
Injuries aside, Antetokounmpo has performed at the level required of him to make the Bucks a contender. Through 36 appearances, he's averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists.
Milwaukee simply doesn't have an adequate supporting cast, though.
Kevin Porter Jr. (17.2 points) is the team's second-leading scorer. Myles Turner, the team's big offseason addition, is impacting games less than he did with the Indiana Pacers. Midseason signing Cam Thomas is reinforcing a lot of the concerns that led the Brooklyn Nets to waive him altogether.
The Bucks are 11th in the Eastern Conference at 28-39. Even if they manage to qualify for the playoffs, it's tough to picture this squad avoiding a fourth successive first-round exit.
With zero margin for error, Milwaukee can't afford to have Antetokounmpo miss any more time. Every game is critical with the regular season wrapping up on April 12.
Granted, Doc Rivers' squad is in a deep enough hole to where missing the postseason — and even failing to make the play-in tournament — might be inevitable regardless of whether Giannis is on the floor.
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