Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo expects to miss 4-6 weeks as season continues spiral

Giannis Antetokounmpo is bracing for a potential multi-week absence after suffering a right calf injury late in the Bucks’ 102-100 home loss to the Nuggets, and the timing could not feel much worse for Milwaukee.

Antetokounmpo began grabbing at his lower right leg in the final minute, limped to the bench, and did not return. An MRI is coming, but the expectation is already leaning toward a lengthy layoff.

“Probably the next steps will be, go to an MRI tomorrow,” Antetokounmpo said, via The Athletic’s Eric Nehm. “After the MRI, they’ll tell me, probably, I popped something in my calf, in my soleus, something. They’ll probably give me a protocol of four to six weeks that I’ll be out. This is from my experience being around the NBA.”

Coach Doc Rivers said he noticed Antetokounmpo laboring for much of the second half and ultimately overruled his star’s desire to stay on the floor.

Meanwhile, the bigger picture keeps getting louder. The Bucks have lost six of their last eight, sit at 18-26, and remain stuck outside the play-in. Even with Denver missing several key rotation players, Milwaukee could not close.

Antetokounmpo finished with 22 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, but grimaced throughout. This is now five losses in six games, several of them blowouts, and recent public frustration from their franchise player about effort, chemistry, and selfish play.

If Giannis misses real time, the Bucks’ season — and their direction — becomes even more fragile.