The Milwaukee Bucks got some bad news to start the week, as they not only sustained a 118-106 loss at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Monday, but they also did not have superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo for the entire second half of the contest due to an injury he appeared to suffer in the first half.
Antetokounmpo left the game in the second quarter with a groin issue and did not return, leaving the Bucks struggling to keep up with the high-powered Cleveland side that shot 56 percent from the field. As for Milwaukee, it made just 42 percent of its attempts from the floor.
Antetokounmpo gathered 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting with five boards and four assists plus a steal in 13 minutes of floor duty before his exit.
Ryan Rollins carried most of the offensive load for the team, with the rising guard scoring 24 points in a losing effort.
Myles Turner provided 15 points and seven boards, while Gary Trent Jr. and Bobby Portis supplied Milwaukee with 12 and 11 points off the bench, respectively.
Portis shows concern amid Antetokounmpo’s injury
Life is just harder on the court for the Bucks without Antetokounmpo. While Milwaukee has plenty of great talent outside of the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, Antetokounmpo is still the one the entire team revolves around.
Portis underscored that with his take on Antetokounmpo’s injury and absence after losing to Cleveland.
“Just an unfortunate situation that our best player, if not the best player in the league goes down, doesn’t return to the game, don’t know the severity of what it is,” Portis said after the game, per Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “But it’s disheartening for us ’cause obviously we need him and our team is basically made up of guys that can bring the best out of him.”
Milwaukee can only hope that Antetokounmpo did not suffer an injury that’s serious enough to force him to miss multiple games.
Up next for the 6-7 Bucks is a showdown against the Philadelphia 76ers at home on Thursday, giving Antetokounmpo and the rest of the team two days of rest.
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