7:33pm: Antetokounmpo will play in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, tweets Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. Giannis went through a full work-out prior to the game and will suit up as the Bucks take on the Suns.
1:37pm: Antetokounmpo has been undergoing around-the-clock treatment in the hopes of being cleared for Game 1, according to Andrews and ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Giannis is expected to be a game-time decision tonight.
12:48pm: Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s condition has been upgraded to questionable for tonight’s opener of the NBA Finals, tweets Malika Andrews of ESPN. He had been listed as doubtful on the Bucks‘ injury report Monday night.
Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since hyperextending his left knee a week ago in Game 4 against the Hawks, but Bucks owner Marc Lasry is confident that he will return some time during the series, writes Adam Zagoria of Forbes. Lasry commented on the status of his star during an appearance this morning on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street.”
“I mean hopefully we’ll find out what happens with Giannis,” he said. “But, you know, it’s up to the medical staff and him as to how he’s gonna feel but they’ll figure it out. I’m pretty sure he’ll play in the series. The question is when.”
Head coach Mike Budenholzer said Monday that the two-time MVP was able to do more on-court work and is “making progress.” Lasry added the decision on Antetokounmpo’s return will depend entirely on how the knee heals.
“It’s really gonna be up to the medical staff and they’ll figure it out and their focus is really on just making sure he stays healthy and that we don’t do anything,” he said.
Antetokounmpo was dominant in two games against the Suns this season, averaging 40 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
Shirt’s on fire! Now it’s out.
It’s tough to tell, but I think the Bucks may just be consulting a Magic Eight Ball at this point.
Giannis going to end up going out like KD. I hope not, but I guess you have to do whatever it takes for the Finals. If I were him, I’d rest Game 1 no matter how I was feeling. But he’s lett8ng his heart control his mind. Can’t say that I blame him given the circumstances. Bucks might not ever get this lucky again with the opposing team’s injuries
Giannis might be one antler short tonight, but he’ll play. I waited 50 years for this…a long, long drought. Remember the two-headed monster of Breuer and Mokeski?
Can’t forget the 3 head “monster” of Fred Roberts, Larry Krystowiak & Jack Sikma
Don’t forget Frank Brickowski!
Pretty good comeback. Loved Sikma (fantasy team name has always been “Sikma or Swim”).
Isn’t anyone else kind of impressed at how well the Bucks play as a team without Giannis?? Collectively, they play smarter, handle the ball with more care, and generally look like a better overall team. Holiday and Middleton are forced into playing as team leaders/generals, and it’s almost like they are actually following some sort of game plan. I haven’t watched much of the Suns, so I have no idea how this turns out, but it certainly has been a fun year to be a Bucks fan again.
A lot of people are underestimating the Bucks here in the Finals. It seemed like they had no chance of winning the ECF without Giannis, but they did anyway. I won’t be at all surprised if they win this series against the Suns.
They did. But it was also against a 5 seed Atlanta team down their best player as well.
If Young was 100% I feel confident that we’d be reading Milwaukee’s off season preview on this site today instead of Giannis’ injury updates.
But that’s really no “slight” to Milwaukee. Almost any team missing its best player will face tall odds of doing much in the playoffs. As we’ve seen multiple times this postseason alone.
Thanks for posting. No, everyone seems to think the Bucks are doomed without him, despite that they are playing better as a team. They generally do, I have seen it twice. Well thrice now.
It’s not a case of them being a better team without Giannis it’s more of a case of opposing team’s don’t game plan for Lopez going off for 30+ or Middleton/Holiday pick and rolls if Giannis is playing.
They should have prepared though… I mean were the Hawks waiting for higher stakes? Two games is time to adjust.
The Bucks should have been to thin to survive but that is the FO choice they made. They will likely lose more talent this summer.
Wow! I didn’t realize how much Giannis destroyed PHO this year, really hope he is 100%… otherwise is gonna be a very sad NBA Finals to watch!
BTW real shame that Rachel Nichols won’t be covering the finals, really like the job she does, just a shame that some people are happy takin’ other peoples jobs even when they ain’t as good or qualified, just covering the quota of political correctness… personally I could never accept a job just ’cause my skin color, knowing someone else is better for it, just not the right color… what a strange world we live in, right? SMH!
Word is Jimmy Butler really likes the job Nichols does too.
Well this is the ‘rumors’ site…
Not being mentioned in the Nichols controversy is that she looks like she could lose some weight… which, may introduce still another controversy if so.
I love Rachel Nichols and it sucks she got passed over. If her words are true, it’s pretty disappointing. The rest of your spill about not taking a job based on skin color it a total lie and you know it. Stop trying to be a message board hero. Maria Taylor is more attractive and actually played basketball and volleyball, so how can you determine Rachel is more qualified? It’s all about “FIT” right. LOL funny how much it sucks when the tables are turned.
El Don is pretty much always disingenuous.
yeah I’ve never paid attention to this particular poster but his “type” is immediately evident.
I’m glad he has me on mute. Who cares what he thinks.
Its funny because she actually replaced a legend Doris Burke who knows the game well because Rachael was prettier …I wonder where she stands on that issue…..
This is obvious trolling because no one on earth cares this much about sideline reporters, much less one as forgettable as Rachel Nichols.
Can’t believe Gianni is playing after that injury. Wonder how he’ll feel after gm. Playing good so far. He’s moving good. Just hope he’s good. Maybe I’m too cautious, but I would have rested him till he got home gm3.
Super game for almost the first two quarters, very crisp and fast and Giannis was a beast. Then he got tired, and the MIL defense seemed to let themselves get picked apart with the scheme used.
I was surprised they let GA start, then go so hard. May have been a mistake… not how I would call it… I would hold him back, let the Bucks team game continue its momentum… no big deal if they lose game 1 away.
Now Lopez looks like a burden.
They were tight. Middleton travelled on most of his early possessions. Conaughton should be something by now.
Yikes, I was afraid of that. There is better flow out there without Giannis- I kinda wanted to see what it would’ve looked like had they sat him one more game. Now he’s got to get back up to speed and the team has to readjust again. We’ll see how it goes Thursday.
So funny how all this CP3 activity will work out for everyone:
Winners:
Chris Paul – might win first title in PHX
Suns – traded for Paul, might win title
Thunder – received a ton of picks/players to take on Paul contract, and then deal to PHX
Losers:
Rockets – Gave up a ton of picks to ditch Paul, ultimately ended up with John Wall, and now are a bottom 5 team
Should emphasize before someone calls me out, Thunder received the players in the Phoenix and subsequent trades…picks in the Houston trade