NBA
Giannis Antetokounmpo suffers right knee injury, day-to-day status
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All posts by James FoglioUpdated27 Feb 2023
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a right knee injury with 1:13 remaining in the first quarter of Friday night’s 128-99 win over the Miami Heat.
The seven-time All-Star appeared to knock knees with a Miami player. Antetokounmpo was ruled out for the remainder of the game after playing less than seven minutes.
Per multiple NBA betting sites, Giannis Antetokounmpo has third-shortest odds to win MVP this season. A few sportsbooks are giving Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid better odds to win the award.
https://youtu.be/rKeveBn1OPo?t=1
Heat guard Victor Oladipo bumped the right knee of Giannis Antetokounmpo while guarding Jevon Carter in the post. After the Milwaukee wing passed the ball to Carter, the Bucks star signaled to the bench of his injury. Antetokounmpo walked to the locker room following a timeout.
“He was basically asking out,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said after the victory. “Fortunately, we had the ball. I don’t think we know exactly when he knocked knees.”
Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo suffers right knee injury in Friday’s 128-99 win over Heat, now listed as day-to-day
Additionally, Antetokounmpo ended his performance with four points, four rebounds, and four assists. Prior to Friday’s matchup, the two-time MVP was upgraded from doubtful to questionable to available.
The Greek Freak was recovering from a right wrist sprain he endured in Milwaukee’s 112-100 win against the Chicago Bulls before the All-Star break. So, his wrist injury did not lead to any missed games. In his 10th season, Giannis Antetokounmpo has missed a total of 11 contests.
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer didn't have clarity on Giannis Antetokounmpo's knee injury.
He said he wasn't sure when exactly Antetokounmpo knocked knees, but Giannis was asking to be subbed out when Bud took the timeout to get him off the floor
— Jamal Collier (@JamalCollier) February 25, 2023
Through 48 starts this season, the Bucks forward is averaging a career-high 31.3 points, along with 12 boards, 5.4 assists, and 32.5 minutes per game. Plus, he’s shooting 53.8% from the field and 64.6% at the foul line.
“The last two days of practice [without Giannis], we really just emphasized kind of keeping that rhythm, the way that we play,” said Bucks guard Jrue Holiday. “Bud says we turn on the faucet. I think just playing fast, sometimes playing random and keeping our chemistry has been good.”
Milwaukee is 6-5 this season in games played without Giannis Antetokounmpo. In a Thursday interview with ESPN, Boston Celtics veteran and notable MVP candidate Jayson Tatum and Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell picked Antetokounmpo as the best player in the NBA. It should go without saying that Milwaukee needs him healthy.
