Giannis Antetokounmpo received’t play within the Milwaukee Bucks’ recreation Sunday in opposition to the Phoenix Suns due to what the staff is describing as a bruised proper quadriceps.
That means neither staff could have its MVP out there for the afternoon matchup. Kevin Durant stays out for Phoenix due to a sprained proper medial collateral ligament and hasn’t performed since Jan. 8, when he was nonetheless with the Brooklyn Nets.
Antetokounmpo left the Bucks’ 128-99 victory over the Miami Heat on Friday within the first quarter after staff officers stated he knocked knees with an opposing participant. The Bucks referred to as it a proper knee difficulty on the time, however the damage report for Sunday’s recreation lists the two-time MVP with a bruised proper quad.
“It’s enough where he can’t play today, but I think we’re also confident that this is just a fairly common occurrence in our league,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer stated earlier than the sport. “You hit knees, you knock, sometimes it takes a day or two, and it’s really nothing more than that. The level of conversations have all been kind of along that line.”
Budenholzer stated Bobby Portis will begin instead of Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo had began Friday’s recreation after a sprained proper wrist brought about him to depart Milwaukee’s 112-100 victory at Chicago on Feb. 16, which marked the Bucks’ final recreation earlier than the All-Star break. Antetokounmpo performed solely 20 seconds within the All-Star Game and went to New York the following day to have the wrist examined, however he recovered from that damage shortly sufficient to play Friday.
The Bucks additionally shall be lacking Wesley Matthews on Sunday for a second straight recreation as a result of a strained proper calf. Pat Connaughton is out there for the Bucks after lacking the Heat recreation due to a sore left calf.
