If there’s one thing the Milwaukee Bucks don’t need right now, it’s an injured Giannis Antetokounmpo. And if Damian Lillard is to be believed, his return from the injury may come at a crucial time for their team.
Just recently, Antetokounmpo left the Bucks’ 104-91 win against the Boston Celtics due to a left calf strain. The two-time MVP then underwent an MRI and will miss Milwaukee’s remaining regular season games to recover.
Before Antetokounmpo left in the third quarter, the Greek Freak posted 15 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and two blocks in 28 minutes. Patrick Beverley led the team in scoring by dropping 20 points while grabbing 10 boards. Lillard and Khris Middleton each had 12 points in the win.
The Celtics, on the other hand, saw Jayson Tatum tally 22 points, five rebounds, and six assists. Jaylen Brown had a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Jrue Holiday notched 12 points against his former team.
“Giannis Antetokounmpo (left soleus strain) will not return to tonight’s game,” The Milwaukee Bucks’ official account on X tweeted.
The win aided Milwaukee in adding more breathing room between their second seed and the third-place New York Knicks. Boston, meanwhile, still own the NBA’s best record of 62 wins and 17 losses as the league will soon enter the playoffs once the Play-In Tournament is done.
Damian Lillard Gives His Honest Take On Milwaukee Bucks Star Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Injury Timeline
After the game, Lillard spoke to reporters about Antetokounmpo’s injury, given that the Bucks’ All-Star guard went through the same experience. In a tweet Eric Nehm posted on X:
The Bucks are off to a worse record under head coach Doc Rivers, as compared to when Adrian Griffin was handling the team. Add Antetokounmpo’s injury to the mix and Milwaukee’s title hopes seem to get bleaker by the moment.
With the regular set to end, there’s only little time left before Antetokounmpo could return. If he doesn’t the Bucks may find themselves caught between a rock and a hard place soon.
