- On Tuesday (Wednesday Manila time), the Milwaukee Bucks upset the Boston Celtics, 104-91, in their heavyweight NBA Eastern Conference matchup. Giannis Antetokounmpo had a concerning calf injury during the game.
In the third quarter, Antetokounmpo, the former MVP, inbounded to teammate Damian Lillard and slumped to the floor in a non-contact incident.
Due to an Achilles injury, Antetokounmpo missed games last month. He left the game at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum limping and in obvious pain.
The Bucks then announced that Antetokounmpo would have an MRI scan to evaluate the extent of his left soleus strain.
After the victory, when asked about Antetokounmpo’s injury, a dejected Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers responded, “They’re checking him now.”
When asked how concerned people were about Antetokounmpo’s injury, Rivers said, “That’s a good question. High, if I may say so. It’s Giannis.
“I believe that everyone is currently experiencing similar emotions to mine. Thus, all we can do is hope for the best.”
The Bucks’ chances of going deep into the postseason would be severely damaged by any kind of major injury to Antetokounmpo.
Before departing Tuesday’s game, the Greek star had tallied 15 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.
What was a promising win for the Bucks over the dominant Eastern Conference team—who are already guaranteed the number one seed in the postseason—was overshadowed by the injury.
After taking a small lead in the opening quarter, the Milwaukee squad outscored the Celtics by 24 points in the second quarter.
For the duration of the game, the Bucks maintained a double-digit advantage, with Patrick Beverley leading Milwaukee in scoring with 20 points.
In the meantime, Boston coach Joe Mazzulla took encouragement from his team’s loss as they got ready for the postseason.
“It’s good for us to be in a bunch of different situations,” Mazzulla stated. I can’t recall when the last time the game didn’t go our way was, but that was the first time.
Therefore, it seems like a nice chance to just sort of play about with it and figure out different methods to build things on either end. We haven’t seen this kind of situation in a long time, so it’s advantageous for us.”
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In other early games on Tuesday, the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Detroit Pistons 120-102 to maintain their winning streak, which began with Joel Embiid’s injury return.
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Embiid finished with 37 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists to leave the Sixers on 45-35, just behind the sixth placed Indiana Pacers (46-34). There are just two games left in the regular season for both teams.
Embiid is still working toward getting back to full condition, according to Sixers coach Nick Nurse.
“I think he’s still got some work to do on it,” the nurse remarked. “But we’re making progress. We’re just slowly inching him up the ladder, just a little bit more each game. But he’s still got a little work to do.”
In Charlotte meanwhile, Luka Doncic scored a 39-point triple double as the Dallas Mavericks’ hot streak continued with a 130-104 road win over the Hornets.
The Mavericks improved to 49-30 to remain in fifth place in the Western Conference.
Dallas easily won thanks to 26 points from Daniel Gafford and 18 from Kyrie Irving for the Mavs.