Giannis Antetokounmpo Out with Injury

On Friday night versus the Utah Jazz, reigning back-to-back MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo had a scary fall. Even though he was able to finish the game, he has been put on the shelf for this evening's matchup against Cleveland. Check out the Greek Freak getting tangled up with Jazz big man Rudy Gobert. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo is out tonight vs. Cleveland, Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer confirms. He took a nasty fall vs. Utah during the second half of Friday’s game.

— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) January 9, 2021

Antetokounmpo maintains he is fine, and said after the Utah loss. "It was a bad fall, I was good. I feel great, always feel good." Coach Mike Budenholzer saw it a little differently. 

He is very sore, very stiff, so there's not much of a discussion or anything today. We are hopeful that it's a short-term thing. We'll see how he feels. Another 24 to 48 hours could make a big difference and he's a quick healer and everything. When appropriate, we'll always err on the side of caution in keeping him healthy and thinking about the long term with him.

Hopefully for Milwaukee, this isn't a serious injury and Giannis can come back to the Bucks fully healthy and ready to dominate again. Antetokounmpo is putting together another MVP-caliber season, averaging 27.1 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 5.2 apg, 1.2 spg while shooting 52.7% from the field. 

Photo Credit: JB Autissier/Panoramic/Icon Sportswire