Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo underwent further tests which revealed he had no serious injury to his right wrist, league sources said. Athleticism Monday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Antetokounmpo sprained his wrist midway through the Bucks’ 112-100 win over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday. He did not play the rest of the game.
- His return will be based on when the swelling subsides, according to league sources.
- The 28-year-old is averaging 31.8 points and 12.2 rebounds per game this season for Milwaukee (41-17), which sits second in the Eastern Conference behind the Celtics (42-17).
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Antetokounmpo was injured with 10:55 remaining in the second quarter of the game against Chicago after trying to block a field goal.
As captain of the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Antetokounmpo took to the court with his right wrist and thumb wrapped. He scored the first field goal, fouled with 11:40 to play and was out for the night. His team went on to defeat Team LeBron 185-174.
What this means for the Eastern Conference
With a 12-game winning streak heading into the All-Star break, the Bucks currently sit in second place in the Eastern Conference at 41-17, just half a game behind the Boston Celtics, with 24 games left on their schedule. Avoiding a lengthy absence for Antetokounmpo should allow them to stay in what is shaping up to be a close race to the top of the Eastern Conference and hold the third-place 76ers, who are 2.5 games behind the Bucks, and the fourth place. Cavaliers, who are 4.5 games behind the Bucks. — take
What this means for the Bucks
Antetokounmpo is once again in the midst of a tight NBA MVP race. Averaging a career-high 31.8 points and 12.2 rebounds per game, he means everything to the Bucks and plays a major role in everything they do on offense and defense.
The Bucks have struggled with injuries throughout this season, but Antetokounmpo’s massive two-way effort has helped keep Milawukee near the top of the standings. The Bucks’ two-time NBA MVP was playing his best basketball of the season before suffering his injury against the Bulls last Thursday, averaging 37.2 points, 13.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game in the previous 11 games . Keeping Antetokounmpo off injury report for an extended period will be a huge boost for the Bucks in the final 24 games of the season. — take
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(Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA Today)