The Milwaukee Bucks’ first game of the 2023 playoffs didn’t go well. They lost to the Miami Heat by 10 and were without superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo down the stretch. He injured his back and was forced to miss the rest of the game, resulting in the 8th seed stealing Game 1 from them.
A loss is a loss, and they will need to even the series or otherwise fall into a hole against a team that is better than their record would indicate. That will largely depend on Antetokounmpo’s health heading into Game 2 and whether he will suit up or not. Let’s see what his injury status is for Game 2.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury status for Game 2: Heat at Bucks
Antetokounmpo landed hard on his lower back in the Bucks’ Game 1 loss to the Heat. He didn’t return following the injury, which immediately led to questions about whether he would play Game 2. Luckily, he seems to be on the right track and may be listed as probable. That has to come as a massive relief to the Bucks, who will try and take Game 2 or risk going to Miami down 0-2.
When will Antetokounmpo play?
With the extra day off between Game 1 and Game 2, the likelihood of Antetokounmpo playing appears to be fairly high. Even if he ultimately doesn’t, the injury does not appear to be something that would cause him to miss Game 3. How impactful he will be with a painful lower back injury is an entirely different question.
Milwaukee Bucks’ full injury report
Fortunately for the Bucks, only Antetokounmpo appears on the injury report. Even then, he appears likely to be removed from the injury report in time for Game 2. With almost every other playoff team impacted by injury, that would be quite impressive.
Milwaukee Bucks’ full first-round series schedule
Apr 19, 2023 Miami 9:00 p.m.
Apr 22, 2023, @ Miami 7:30 p.m. ESPN
April 24, 2023, @ Miami 7:00 p.m NBATV
April 26, 2023 Miami TBA
April 28, 2023 Miami TBA
Apr 30, 2023 Miami TBA
All in all, Bucks fans should breathe a sigh of relief, because it appears that Antetokounmpo will play on Wednesday. How effective he will be remains to be seen, but he at least gives them a chance to take Game 2, and that may be enough.
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Author: Cal Durrett
April 18, 2023 | 10:30 am
