Breaking News : Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury status for Bucks vs. Nets after recent return
The Milwaukee Bucks will play their first game of the new year on Thursday evening against the Brooklyn Nets. In a somewhat unbelievable piece of scheduling, it’s already the fourth time the Nets and Bucks will have squared off this season, with Brooklyn having won two out of the first three matchups.
The Bucks recently were forced to weather a brief stretch without superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in the lineup due to illness, but the Greek Freak returned on Tuesday for a come from behind road win against the Indiana Pacers.
According to the NBA’s latest injury report, Antetokounmpo is currently listed as probable for Thursday’s tilt with the Nets with right patella tendinopathy. Joining Antetokounmpo on the Bucks’ injury report are AJ Green, who is questionable with a lumbar contusion, and Khris Middleton, who is probable due to bilateral ankle surgery recovery.
Meanwhile, the Nets will be without a host of players for this matchup, including Ben Simmons, who will miss the game due to lower back injury management.
The Bucks’ season has already been a roller coaster, with them currently sitting at 17-14, good for fifth place in the not-too-difficult Eastern Conference playoff picture. Milwaukee started the season with a 2-8 record, but has since recovered their footing. Antetokounmpo has been playing the best basketball of his career this season, but increased performance from role players such as Taurean Prince and Gary Trent Jr. has provided the former league MVP with much-needed support.
In any event, the Nets’ clash signals the beginning of a fairly winnable stretch of games for the Bucks, since their next two opponents are the Portland Trail Blazers and the Toronto Raptors, both of whom are
Jackson Stone is a sports journalist for ClutchPoints with expertise in covering the NBA, NFL, and CAA Football. The Mercer University senior from Atlanta is on track to graduate with a BA in communications, and he has bylines at FanSided and USA Today Sports’ Georgia athletics website.
