Watch: Phoenix Suns' Torrey Craig loses a tooth after collision with Giannis Antetokounmpo
Phoenix Suns forward Torrey Craig took quite the hit in a collision with Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. With Craig hitting the floor and losing a tooth in the process, we take a closer look at the situation.
The matchup between the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night was undoubtedly tense. Considering that the two teams faced off during the 2021 NBA Finals, the game was already set up as a bit of a grudge match.
The game itself saw Milwaukee establish a rather comfortable lead through the first half. With Antetokounmpo dominating as per usual, the Bucks had managed to pull away and put pressure upon Phoenix to catch up.
Given the way Giannis made his presence known, the Suns were forced to double-team or trap him in the corner whenever possible. However, this tactic backfired for Suns forward Torrey Craig.
Early in the third quarter, Giannis pushed the ball into the offensive half. Craig arrived in the nick of time to slow down Antetokounmpo's drive. However, in the process of cutting off Antetokounmpo, the Suns forward took a hit to the face and was seen hitting the floor.
The game proceeded with Giannis turning around and looking for his teammates. Craig remained on the floor at this point.
Eventually, after a missed Brook Lopez 3-pointer, the Suns secured the rebound and called a timeout. At this point, Torrey Craig got up and picked up a fallen tooth off the floor.
Torrey Craig lost a tooth on this play after colliding with Giannis 😳 https://t.co/bj9tSsoJcT
Giannis Antetokounmpo wasn't booked for a foul on the play. Meanwhile, Craig also returned to action shortly after.
The Phoenix Suns come up short at home
Torrey Craig's fallen teeth had virtually no impact on the overall result of the game. Although the Phoenix Suns made a massive push to close out the third with the lead, the Milwaukee Bucks eventually came out on top.
Giannis Antetokounmpo played a vital role in ensuring a win for the Bucks. With 36 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, Antetokounmpo shattered Phoenix's defense. Considering that the Suns traded Jae Crowder, coincidentally to the Bucks, Phoenix had a significant lack of defensive depth.
The Phoenix Suns had a tough time without Kevin Durant on the roster. Although Devin Booker had himself a night with 30 points and a crucial third-quarter performance, Phoenix couldn't rally behind their star.
The fourth quarter was a total wash for the Suns as the Bucks walked past them with a win. With two consecutive losses in a row, the Suns have fallen to 37-32 on the season.
While there is virtually no doubt that Phoenix will be in the playoffs this season, the Suns will be concerned about how deep of a run they can make this year.