MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Bucks All-NBA forward Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a hyperextended left knee but did not suffer any structural damage, according to a report. But it is still unclear if he will be able to play in Game 5 on Thursday.
According to the team, Antetokounmpo underwent an MRI and further examination by team physician Dr. Carole Vetter on Wednesday. ESPN reported Antetokounmpo did not suffer structural damage, and his ligaments are intact, .
Antetokounmpo sustained the injury trying to defend an alley-oop lob to Atlanta’s Clint Capela with 7:14 left in the third quarter of Game 4 on Tuesday.
Atlanta won 110-88 and tied the Eastern Conference finals at 2-2.
It is a devastating injury for the Bucks, who were in prime position to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1974. Antetokounmpo’s injury disrupts that objective.
Antetokounmpo settled into nearly unstoppable role against the Hawks. He focused on attacking the rim, curtailed his 3-point attempts and opened up more offensive opportunities for his teammates, namely Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday. He averaged 30.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists and two steals and shot 59.4% from the field in the first three games of the series.
Now, the Bucks are tasked with winning two more games without Antetokounmpo, putting more pressure on Middleton and Holiday and requiring more from a tight rotation that was just eight deep before Antetokounmpo’s injury. Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton and Bryn Forbes will receive more minutes.
The Hawks were able to overcome at least one game without Trae Young, who missed Game 4 with bone bruise in his right foot. The Bucks will need to match that without their superstar.
Antetokounmpo missed two games in March with a left knee strain, missed six games in April with left knee soreness and sat out of the final game of the regular season to rest that sore left knee.
The Bucks were 6-5 in games that Antetokounmpo missed this season.
The injury on Tuesday looked bad in real time and on replay. Antetokounmpo jumped tried to break up the lob to Capela who caught the basketball and dunked it. The two players’ legs were tangled as they came down, and Antetokounmpo’s left leg hit the ground awkwardly and his knee hyperextended.
He limped off the court with the help of his brother and teammate, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, and went to the locker room. He came back to bench area briefly and then retreated to the locker room.
Bucks and Hawks will battle to end long NBA Finals droughts
SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' Mackenzie Salmon and Jeff Zillgitt discuss the Eastern Conference finals between the Bucks and Hawks and how both teams are looking to end a long absence from the NBA Finals.
SportsPulse, USA TODAY
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiiQFodHRwczovL3d3dy51c2F0b2RheS5jb20vc3Rvcnkvc3BvcnRzL25iYS9idWNrcy8yMDIxLzA2LzMwL25vLXNlcmlvdXMta25lZS1kYW1hZ2UtZ2lhbm5pcy1hbnRldG9rb3VubXBvLWJ1dC1jb3VsZC1taXNzLXNlcmllcy83ODEyOTAwMDAyL9IBJ2h0dHBzOi8vYW1wLnVzYXRvZGF5LmNvbS9hbXAvNzgxMjkwMDAwMg?oc=5
2021-06-30 21:46:32Z
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar