The Milwaukee Bucks, whose sputtering start continued with a defeat on Monday, now have a bigger reason for concern: Star big man Giannis Antetokounmpo exited the contest due to a left groin strain.
Antetokounmpo will have an MRI on Tuesday, coach Doc Rivers said after the Bucks’ 118-106 road loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Apparently hobbled since early in the contest, Antetokounmpo fouled Evan Mobley in the lane with 3:03 to go before halftime, then walked straight to the locker room.
“He grabbed it in the first quarter, and I asked him and he said it was fine,” Rivers said. “Then, I think, he grabbed it again, and he said it was fine. Then, the third time is when it happened, but I think it happened earlier, in my opinion. …
“Didn’t look great, I can tell you that. We’ll know more tomorrow.”
Antetokounmpo, 30, wound up with 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and four turnovers in 13 minutes. The two-time MVP entered the night averaging 32.6 points, 11.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game.
In 13 NBA seasons, Antetokounmpo owns career averages of 24.0 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 872 games (807 starts). The nine-time All-Star led the Bucks to the 2020-21 NBA championship.
Milwaukee has lost three of its past four games, falling to 8-7 on the season. The Bucks are next in action when they play host to the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday.
