Milwaukee Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will be sidelined for 1-2 weeks with a low-grade left groin strain that he suffered against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Updates on his status will be provided moving forward.
Antetokounmpo left the game against Cleveland late in the second quarter in clear discomfort. He didn’t return to action and after the game Bucks coach Doc Rivers said that the injury “didn’t look great.” Luckily for the Bucks, the injury didn't end up being worse and thus will only cost Antetokounmpo a couple weeks of action.
Antetokounmpo has been playing some of the best ball of his career so far this season. He’s averaging career-highs in both points (31.2) and assists (6.8) per game. He’s also adding 10.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per performance while shooting 62 percent from the floor. He's currently third on the latest edition of the NBA's MVP ladder.
Milwaukee will have to try to find a way to replace Antetokounmpo's production during his stint on the sideline, though doing so obviously won't be easy. His absence will likely mean additional playing time for guys like Bobby Portis and Amir Coffey and it also means that other guys like Myles Turner and Kyle Kuzma will have to pick up their production.
The Bucks currently occupy the No. 9 spot in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 8-7. Unfortunately, they have a relatively tough stretch of schedule coming up that includes games against the Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons, Miami Heat and New York Knicks – all teams that are ahead of them in the conference standings. Let's see if they can stay afloat until Antetokounmpo returns.