The Milwaukee Bucks are holding out hope that the back injury Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered in Game 1 of the first round will not hamper him going forward.
Coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters Monday that Antetokounmpo’s MRI and X-rays came back clean and that he and the staff remain “optimistic” about Antetokounmpo as Game 2 vs. the Miami Heat awaits on Wednesday (9 ET, NBA TV).
“I would say he’s still sore, but I think progress and he’s getting some treatment and I think we’ll just continue to monitor him for the next 24 (hours), next day or two,” Budenholzer said. “And probably fortunate that two days between games. So, I think still mostly positive, mostly optimistic, but we’ll see how he feels in the next day or two.”
Antetokounmpo was forced out of Milwaukee’s eventual 130-117 loss to Miami in Game 1 in the first quarter when he landed hard on his backside after getting fouled. After being removed from the game, Antetokounmpo went to the locker room. He returned with 9:56 left in the second quarter but exited again with 8:33 left in the half and didn’t return.
This marks the second-straight season the Bucks have suffered a key injury early in their playoff run.
Three-time All-Star Khris Middleton sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in Game 2 of the Bucks’ opening-round series with the Chicago Bulls last season and missed Milwaukee’s final 10 playoff games. The Bucks ended up losing a seven-game series to the Boston Celtics in the East semifinals.
Two years ago, Antetokounmpo hyperextended his left knee and missed the last two games of the East finals. He returned from that injury and was named the MVP of the NBA Finals after scoring 50 points in the title-clinching Game 6 victory over the Phoenix Suns that gave the Bucks their first championship in half a century.
The Bucks are hoping Antetokounmpo shows his resilience once again. However, he isn’t the only standout who has suffered an injury as the 2023 NBA playoffs began.
Injuries over the span of a couple hours Sunday also sidelined two-time All-Star Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies and the Miami Heat’s Tyler Herro, keeping them from finishing their playoff openers.
Anthony Davis scared Los Angeles Lakers fans by grabbing at his right shoulder and saying he couldn’t move his arm. Luckily for the Lakers, Davis rebounded from a stinger and returned for the start of the third quarter of their 128-112 victory over the Grizzlies.
Both Antetokounmpo and Morant were hurt on drives to the basket where each landed awkwardly.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
