MILWAUKEE — Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t end Friday evening’s 102-100 loss to the Denver Nuggets due to a proper calf harm, which Antetokounmpo mentioned after the sport he expects will sideline him for no less than 4 to 6 weeks.
Antetokounmpo will endure an MRI on Saturday for additional analysis of the harm, which restricted him all through Friday’s contest. He mentioned the problem felt just like the calf harm that sidelined him earlier this season.
“After the MRI, they are going to inform me, in all probability, I popped one thing in my calf on my soleus or one thing,” Antetokounmpo mentioned Friday. “That is from my expertise being across the NBA.”
Antetokounmpo appeared to endure the harm within the first quarter and went to the locker room. He returned to the sport sporting a wrap round his proper calf and performed by way of the harm.
“I used to be feeling it majority of the sport however didn’t need to cease enjoying,” Antetokounmpo mentioned. “However on the finish, I couldn’t transfer no extra, so I needed to cease.”
Bucks coach Doc Rivers acknowledged he thought Antetokounmpo was favoring his leg for many of the second half earlier than he lastly pulled him from the sport.
“I requested our [medical] staff 5 totally different instances,” Rivers mentioned. “I did not like what my eyes had been seeing, personally. Giannis was defiant about staying in.”
Antetokounmpo has been no stranger to calf accidents lately. In December, he missed three weeks with what he later described without any consideration soleus pressure, the identical harm that saved him out of the 2024 playoffs.
“This calf retains developing and it is regarding,” Rivers mentioned. “I am not a physician, however I am sensible sufficient to know that his calf retains bothering him and there is one thing that’s there. It retains occurring, and that is troublesome for all of us.”
Antetokounmpo stayed on the ground for 32 minutes regardless of the harm, ending with 22 factors on 4-of-8 capturing, 13 rebounds and 7 assists.
Milwaukee almost pulled off a late rally from down 23 factors with 10:33 within the fourth quarter to chop the result in two, however Antetokounmpo was clearly favoring his leg close to the top of the sport, and the comeback try fell brief.
“For me to cease enjoying and never be capable to transfer? It was extraordinarily painful,” Antetokounmpo mentioned. “I used to be simply attempting to be on the market, do no matter I may, attempt to have an effect on the sport in any manner that I may. Passing, rebounding, simply no matter I may. I really feel like even generally after I’m at an obstacle, I would nonetheless be efficient. I’ve carried out it up to now. It is not the primary time, so I’d simply attempt to be on the market and attempt to assist my staff no matter manner potential.”
The potential lack of Antetokounmpo is a big setback for Milwaukee, which misplaced for the fifth time up to now six video games on Friday evening. The Bucks (18-26) are in eleventh place within the Japanese Convention standings and path the Hawks by 2½ video games for the No. 10 seed.
Total, the Bucks are 3-11 this season with out Antetokounmpo.
“I will work my butt off to return again,” Antetokounmpo mentioned. “That can in all probability be the top of February, starting of March. Hopefully the staff shall be in a spot that we are able to no less than make the play-in or make the playoffs and simply take it day-to-day, attempt to get higher.”
