Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo day-to-day after hurting knee vs. Heat

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Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo left late in the first quarter of the Bucks’ game against the Miami Heat on Friday night after the Bucks said he bumped his knees with an opponent.

Antetokounmpo, who endured a wrist injury to start the game, was on the court late in the first quarter when the ball was passed and immediately began gesturing to the bench. The Bucks called a timeout with 1:13 left in the period to allow Antetokounmpo to leave the game and head to the locker room.

Bucks officials announced early in the second quarter that the two-time MVP would not return to the game because of what they said was a right knee problem. Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer said after the Bucks’ 128-99 win that he wasn’t sure when it happened.

Antetokounmpo had four points, four rebounds and four assists in six minutes.

“I haven’t had the full breakdown, but I’m pretty sure whether it’s on a drive or a screen or something like that, he hit his knees with somebody and he just couldn’t get back,” Budenholzer said.

Budenholzer had no update on Antetokounmpo’s situation beyond that, but his status is considered day-to-day.

Antetokounmpo has missed a total of 11 games at various points this season with a sore left knee. He was in the starting lineup just four days after traveling to New York to have his right wrist examined.

Antetokounmpo sprained his wrist on Feb. 16 in the Bucks’ 120-100 win at Chicago in their final game before the All-Star break. He played just 20 seconds in Sunday’s All-Star Game while his wrist was wrapped.

But the two-time MVP didn’t have his wrist taped as he worked out Friday before the Bucks’ game with the Miami Heat. The wrist was also not recorded when he opened the game.

Before the game, Budenholzer described Antetokounmpo’s rapid progress over the past week as “incredible.”

Antetokounmpo ranks third in the NBA in scoring (31.8) and second in rebounding (12.2).

Milwaukee also had Bobby Portis return from a month-long absence and Jae Crowder make his 2022-23 debut as the Bucks chased their 13th straight victory.

Portis, who is suffering from a sprained medial collateral ligament, was playing for the first time since Jan. 23.

The Bucks acquired Crowder at the trade deadline from the Brooklyn Nets, who had acquired him from Phoenix as part of the trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Suns. Crowder hadn’t played in Phoenix all season as the Suns tried to make a trade.

Cody Zeller and Kevin Love played in Miami. The Heat signed both veterans on Monday.

The Bucks were without Pat Connaughton (sore left calf) and Wesley Matthews (strained right calf).

Report from The Associated Press.

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