Giannis Antetokounmpo 'doubtful' to play for Bucks in Game 2 of NBA playoff series vs. Heat
Giannis Antetokounmpo did not practice with the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday afternoon at the Sports Science Center with a lower back contusion but head coach Mike Budenholzer remains optimistic about the chances of the star's return to action. However, his injury status was later revealed on Tuesday.
The Bucks submitted their first injury report before Wednesday night's Game 2 at Fiserv Forum on Tuesday evening, and they listed the MVP candidate as doubtful to play against the Miami Heat. But earlier in the day Budenholzer said the chances of the star playing will be determined following Antetokounmpo's ongoing treatment and activity before tipoff at about 8 p.m.
"We have 24-plus hours before game time so he'll get treatment," Budenholzer said early Tuesday afternoon. "We'll see how he feels. I think there's been a lot of progress and hopefully there's more in the next day or so.
"Whether it'll be everyday things that will tell him what he can do, and then on the court move a little bit, shoot a little bit, do some defensive things, get ready for a basketball game. We'll just see how the next day goes."
Following Monday's film session and light on-court walkthrough, Budenholzer said he was "mostly optimistic" about the MVP candidate's return and he kept that stance Tuesday.
"I think if I'm being honest I think there's an optimism," he said. "Time, I think is a little bit on our side, but I think that equation will flip. Yeah, I would say we're optimistic."
Though Antetokounmpo's immediate status for Game 2 is uncertain, Budenholzer has said imaging on his back came back clean, which was a bit of a relief for Antetokounmpo's teammates.
"Oh, for sure," Jae Crowder said. "Yeah, for sure. He took a hard fall. The floor is not going to apologize to you. It's one of those things we risk once we get up in the air as athletes and basketball players, but fortunately it's not as bad as we all thought. I'm glad about that, for sure."
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The Bucks went 11-8 during the regular season when Antetokounmpo did not play (11-6 when the regular starters and rotation players were available to play), and Sixth Man of the Year candidate Bobby Portis has been the primary sub for Antetokounmpo.
In his 22 starts on the season, Portis averaged 17.4 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
"Whatever is going forward tomorrow, I think we've been a battle-tested team throughout the season," Portis said Tuesday as the Bucks face a 0-1 deficit in the series. "Had a lot of guys have a lot of injuries, different injuries throughout the season and different guys stepped up. I think it's kind of different when someone goes down during the game then us knowing they're out before the game. It's a lot different feeling."
Wesley Matthews ruled out for Game 2 vs. Heat
The Bucks ruled wing Wesley Matthews out for the second game of their series with the Heat due to a right calf strain. The 36-year-old Marquette University alumnus played 17 minutes off the bench in Game 1, scoring six points and pulling down three rebounds.
He was part of a contingent of players tasked with defending Heat star Jimmy Butler, and factored into the team's plans for defending some of the top offensive wing players remaining in the playoffs should the Bucks advance.
Matthews initially strained this calf late in the game against Chicago on Feb. 16. The All-Star break followed, but Matthews missed the following nine games with the injury. He did not play in a 10th game before returning to action on March 14.
Over the final 13 games of the regular season, he averaged just over 16 minutes per game and shot 27.6% from behind the three-point line.