Giannis Antetokounmpo: Injury Exit, Left Calf Strain

In Milwaukee, during the Bucks’ 104-91 victory over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo had to leave the game in the third quarter due to a left calf injury. The incident occurred as Antetokounmpo was advancing up the court after a made 3-pointer by Celtics guard Derrick White. Antetokounmpo fell to the floor without contact, clutching at his left leg. He remained on the floor as the Bucks called a timeout, and his teammates assisted him off the court and toward the locker room.

The official diagnosis for Antetokounmpo was a left soleus strain, with further evaluation planned through an MRI exam and testing on his Achilles tendon. Despite leaving the game early, Antetokounmpo had a productive performance, scoring 15 points, grabbing 8 rebounds, and dishing out 7 assists. However, he did not speak to reporters after the game.

Bucks coach Doc Rivers expressed his concern about Antetokounmpo’s injury, acknowledging the significance of his absence if he were to miss additional time. Antetokounmpo had been dealing with left hamstring tendinopathy prior to the game, and he had missed several games earlier in the season due to similar injuries. Tuesday’s game marked only the fifth time in the last 30 games that the Bucks had their key players, including Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, and Khris Middleton, all available.

The victory against the Celtics was crucial for the Bucks,as they had previously suffered a four-game losing streak, their longest since December 2022. With this win, they maintained a 1½-game lead for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff standings.