How long is Giannis Antetokounmpo out for? Latest injury update as Bucks star leaves game against Miami Heat with a knee issue
Former two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo can't seem to catch a break. In the Milwaukee Bucks final game before the All-Star break, Giannis exited the game with a wrist injury that saw him miss the majority of the All-Star game after scoring the opening bucket for his team.
While Giannis was ready to go after the All-Star break, he was injured early in the Bucks' game against the Miami Heat on Friday night. He quickly made his way to the locker room before returning to the game in the fourth quarter with 1:43 remaining, raising concerns about his health in the coming weeks.
While the addition of Jae Crowder provided the Bucks with a much-needed spark, the Bucks will need Giannis to be healthy for the remaining six weeks of the season if they are to compete in a stacked Eastern Conference come playoff time. The Celtics are currently one game ahead of the Bucks in the standings, with the Philadelphia 76ers hot on their tail.
Fortunately, despite missing the remainder of the game against the Heat on Friday, Giannis is currently listed as day-to-day. After the game, head coach Mike Budenholzer spoke about the situation, revealing that Antetokounmpo banged knees with another player. So far, there's been no word on whether Giannis will get an MRI.
You can see the injury in the video above.
The Milwaukee Bucks extended their win streak to 13 despite Giannis Antetokounmpo's injury
Fortunately for the Milwaukee Bucks franchise and their fans, the team was able to extend their win streak to 13 despite the former MVP's absence. The win streak, which marks the longest by any team in the NBA this season, saw several players step up on Friday.
In the starting lineup, every player besides Antetokounmpo scored in double-digits. Jrue Holiday, the team's leading scorer, added 24 points, five rebounds, and seven assists on 9-14 from the floor. In addition, Brook Lopez contributed 17 points and hauled down 7 boards on 7-12 shooting.
One of the biggest stories of the game, however, was the debut of Jae Crowder. After sitting out the entirety of the season due to disagreements with the Phoenix Suns about his role, Crowder played 16 minutes in his first game of the season.
Off the bench, he contributed nine points while hauling down three boards. The performance saw him go 100% from beyond the arc as he knocked down two three-pointers.
After the team acquired Crowder prior to the All-Star break, Budenholzer spoke about the impact he had on the team.
"He does whatever it takes to win. He does so many little things on both ends of the court, defensively and offensively. He's got kind of a toughness on the offensive end, sets screens. He understands spacing, understands timing. He's won a ton."
As the Bucks look to make a big postseason run, Antetokounmpo's health and the addition of Jae Crowder will be two of the biggest stories in Milwaukee.