Giannis Antetokounmpo means everything to the Milwaukee Bucks. During the 2022-23 campaign, the Bucks finished at the top of the Eastern Conference with the best record in the NBA. The Greek Freak has been responsible for their performance and he never failed to deliver in crucial moments. Milwaukee began its post-season run against the Miami Heat but did not secure the victory.
Giannis Antetokounmpo did not have a pleasant start to the knockout stages. During the first quarter of the game, he fell extremely hard on his back. This happened while the former MVP drove to the basketball and collided with Kevin Love of the Heat. A foul was called on Love while Giannis remained on the floor for a long time. His face was filled with the pain while he held his back.
Giannis with a scary fall 😳
Fortunately, he’s ok 🙏 pic.twitter.com/QaShNkKoUi
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 16, 2023
Antetokounmpo has dealt with a bunch of injuries this season, but they were mainly his knees that troubled him. He was ruled out of the game and did not return to the court following his exit in the first quarter. Experts suggest that it may be a back contusion but no updates have been given by the medical team just yet. Giannis averaged 31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game. His contributions are very crucial to the Bucks and his absence could lead to a first-round exit.
Will Giannis Antetokounmpo return in Game 2 against the Miami Heat?
Giannis Antetokounmpo attempted both free throws before exiting the court for good. Everything seemed fine as he walked out of the court as well. However, the true result of the fall will only be visible henceforth. Head Coach Mike Budenholzer claims that the X-Rays are all clear, showing no signs of any serious damage.
Giannis exits the floor for the second time since taking a hard fall. Not good 😐pic.twitter.com/rXYLyiVFkw
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) April 16, 2023
Giannis has never faced any serious injuries throughout his career. He has always remained fit and consistent in his game. Budenholzer said that their medical team would monitor him after he woke up the next day. However, he could potentially experience bruising around the area of impact, which is common in falls like this.
Antetokounmpo had 6 points in 11 minutes of game time. The Heat went on to blowout the Bucks 130-117. Khris Middleton showed great effort, scoring 33 points with 9 rebounds and 4 assists. However, the Bucks do not mainly rely on Giannis for scoring, but also on the defensive end. Jrue Holiday had an impressive 16 points and 16 assists double-double. And Bobby Portis scored 21 points. The Bucks will host the Heat again on Wednesday.