Already absent in the last two games of this series between Miami and Milwaukee which currently sees the Heat leading the dance (2-1), Giannis Antetokounmpo could also miss game 4, this Monday in Florida. Hit in the back since a fall in game 1, the Bucks superstar is not yet fully recovered.
In the same way as the champion Golden State, nevertheless returned to height (2-2) from Sacramento this Sunday, or from Cleveland, very close to the exit against New York (3-1) after the new victory of the Knicks, Saturday evening on the floor of Madison Square Garden, Milwaukee is badly embarked on its series of the 1st round of the NBA play-offs. The Bucks, yet the best team of the regular season, find themselves in fact led 2-1 by Miami after game 3 and looms in game 4, on the floor of the Heat. Worse still: it could be that this already capital trip, on Monday evening in Florida, the players from Wisconsin will make it again without Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The franchise superstar, hit in the back by falling in the first game, had already missed the last two meetings. He could also be deprived of Game 4. Mike Budenholzer would have liked to announce another news on the eve of this fourth meeting in the series between the first of the Eastern Conference at the end of the regular season and the 8th. However, no offense to the Bucks coach and his team, the most complete vagueness still hovered Sunday over the possible return of the “Greek Freak”, not to say that there is a good chance that the star pivot of the 2021 champions fails them again, Monday in Florida.
The decision rests with Antetokounmpo himself
“Giannis worked alone on the court today (Sunday) and we will see how he will be when he wakes up tomorrow (Monday)”, said Budenholzer, who was crossing his fingers that his best player would come to the aid of his team, but knowing that he had no say in the matter. It is only after discussing with members of the Bucks medical staff that Antetokounmpo will make his decision. Without him, last Wednesday, Milwaukee had managed to equalize by winning at home against Miami thanks in particular to an excellent Jimmy Butler.
Not sure, however, that the former Chicago All-Star and his family will manage to do it again if the double MVP were to give up again. Especially since this time, the meeting will take place in Florida. So let’s hope for Milwaukee that the Greek will recover from that back injury he’s been dragging around since Game 1 and be able to reunite with his teammates. The future of the Bucks in these play-offs probably go through there.
