Giannis Antetokounmpo affords Bucks aid, hope in return regardless of Sport 1 loss vs. Suns

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PHOENIX — The worst ideas crossed Giannis Antetokounmpo’s thoughts.

He not solely believed he suffered a season-ending knee harm in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks in Sport 4 of the Jap Convention finals, he puzzled if subsequent season is likely to be worn out, too.

“When the play occurred,” he mentioned, “I believed I will be out for a yr, you understand.

“I could not stroll in all probability, and my knee was like double the dimensions. Normally I by no means swell up. However you understand, I wakened the subsequent day, did no matter it is known as, MRI or X-ray, I do not know what it is known as, and so they mentioned I am good. And I used to be like, ‘Thank God.’ “

The imaging revealed a hyperextended left knee, however the Milwaukee Bucks remained quiet in regards to the extent of the harm till they elevated his standing for Tuesday’s Sport 1 of the NBA Finals in opposition to the Phoenix Suns from uncertain to questionable.

Every week after the harm, the Bucks medical employees cleared him to play within the Bucks’ 118-105 series-opening loss.

In between the harm and Sport 1, Antetokounmpo labored across the clock to scale back swelling, strengthen the knee and put himself in place to play.

“From my remedy to lifting and getting on the courtroom, pool periods, holding my foot elevated, like 24 hours a day,” Antetokounmpo mentioned. “And clearly it wasn’t simple, however I used to be keen to do it, and the medical employees had an important program for me that I used to be in a position to do what I needed to do to remain in form and on the similar time get better and never have a number of swelling in my knee.”

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He had 20 factors, 17 rebounds, 4 assists, two steals and one block, and displayed a few of his pre-injury skills in opposition to the Suns.

But it surely’s clear he’s not but 100%. He grabbed his knee at one level in the course of the sport and walked gingerly off the postgame press convention dais.

He gained’t admit any discomfort.

“I am attempting my greatest to not make it about my knee, however I will say another time that my knee felt good,” mentioned Antetokounmpo. “Clearly if you go and play a sport, you by no means know what is going on to occur. … On the finish of the day, I am on the market. I felt good. I do not really feel ache. I can run. I can bounce. I can set screens. I can rebound the ball. I can do stuff.”

He did do stuff. A 20-17 double-double in a Finals sport in 35 minutes is spectacular irrespective of the circumstance. Three of Antetokounmpo’s six made baskets have been dunks, and he had a chase-down block on Mikal Bridges that was spectacular. It’s vital what he completed.

“There have been a number of good issues, contemplating 5 days and what he is been by these final 5, six, seven days,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer mentioned. “He is a rhythm man. So, I am enthusiastic about how he’ll enhance from Sport 1 to Sport 2. We’ll see how he feels. However I feel play-wise, he all the time will get higher when he performs.”

If he’s going to enhance between the video games, that’s nice for the Bucks, who lower a 20-point third-quarter deficit to 101-94 within the fourth. The Bucks want a good higher Antetokounmpo in the event that they’re going to win a highway sport and even make this a protracted sequence.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 20 points and 17 rebounds in Game 1 after being cleared to play in the hours ahead of tip-off.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 20 factors and 17 rebounds in Sport 1 after being cleared to play within the hours forward of tip-off.

Antetokounmpo mentioned he doesn’t know what the longer term holds. “I’d get up tomorrow and my knee is likely to be swelled up,” he mentioned. “Hopefully I get up tomorrow and I am good. Hopefully I get up two days from now and I am good, and hopefully we are able to go on the market and compete.”

The Bucks’ medical employees wouldn’t have cleared him to play in Sport 1 in the event that they have been involved about his availability for Sport 2. That’s an important signal for the Bucks.

Antetokounmpo gave an open and refreshing press convention, the primary time he has met with the media for the reason that harm.

“Simply carrying the jacket and seeing the Finals brand on the jacket and the jersey, clearly, we did not get the win, however it’s good to be right here,” he mentioned. “It is good to benefit from the second, benefit from the video games. You possibly can by no means take issues like this without any consideration and simply attempt to make one of the best out of it. However I am pleased that we’re in a position to be right here. We labored laborious all yr to have a possibility to win a championship, and we will maintain working laborious day-by-day and put ourselves able to win.”

These darkish ideas disappeared, and the outlook is slightly brighter.

Observe Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt.

This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo affords aid, hope regardless of loss to Suns



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