Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Avoids Serious Injury To Lower Leg

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has avoided serious injury to his left lower leg and Achilles, per NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic.

This was a “best-case scenario” after Antetokounmpo exited Tuesday’s 104-91 win over the Boston Celtics in the third quarter with a left calf strain. His return, however, remains up in the air and will be based on rehab of the injury, Charania noted.

Antetokounmpo suffered the injury while jogging up the court. He underwent an MRI after the game.

As relayed by Ben Steele of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Antetokounmpo, guard Damian Lillard, and forward Khris Middleton have played just eight games together since Doc Rivers took over as coach in late January.

Nonetheless, Milwaukee (48-31) still sits in second in the Eastern Conference, one game ahead of the New York Knicks, and two over the Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers.

“It’s just been us all year,” forward Bobby Portis said, via Steele. “Look at the makeup of our team. We are really resilient in the things we do.”

The Bucks led 73-58 when Antetokounmpo fell to the court with 3:37 remaining in the third quarter. He finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

“Obviously, pulling for him and hoping for the best,” Lopez said, via Steele. “But all this stuff that we’ve been through the season is just making us stronger. Getting us better. Making us tougher for this final (week) until the playoffs.”

Meanwhile, the Celtics (62-17) have wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. They attempted zero free throws in Tuesday’s loss — the first time in NBA history a team has failed to attempt at least one foul shot.

The Bucks attempted just two, resulting in a quick game that lasted just one hour and 57 minutes.

“You know, I didn’t know it. I thought it was a physical game and then they handed me the stat sheet and I told them, ‘No, I need the whole game.’ I thought it was the halftime stats,” Rivers told reporters. “I didn’t look at the minutes. And then I said, ‘Wow, two free throws for a basketball game.’ That’s crazy.”