MILWAUKEE — Appearing on the Milwaukee Bucks’ “Courtside with Gale Klappa” podcast, coach Doc Rivers said Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss some time with a left groin strain.
“It went pretty well,” Rivers said of Antetokounmpo’s MRI. “I don’t know what grade (the strain) is, but I know it’s not a bad one, so that’s good news for us. But yet, he’s still probably two weeks, he’ll be out. And we’ll see. Hopefully less, but most likely in that area.”
Antetokounmpo sustained the injury during Monday night’s 118-106 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. After playing seven games in 11 days, the Bucks (8-7) do not play again until Thursday when they welcome the Philadelphia 76ers to Fiserv Forum, but they will play seven games in the next two weeks:
• Thursday — vs. Philadelphia
• Saturday — vs. Detroit
• Nov. 24 — vs. Portland
• Nov. 26 — at Miami
• Nov. 28 — at New York
• Nov. 29 — vs. Brooklyn
• Dec. 1 — at Washington
Four of the next five games feature teams currently in the top seven in the Eastern Conference, making it an unfortunate stretch for Antetokounmpo to miss, but the final two games in the next seven would be against teams at the bottom of the East standings.
Antetokounmpo has been one of the most impactful players in the NBA this season. In 13 games, including even his injury-shortened, 13-minute performance against the Cavaliers, Antetokounmpo averaged 31.2 points, 10.8 rebounds and 6.8 assists, making him the only player in the NBA currently averaging at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.
More importantly for his team, the Bucks were outscoring opponents by 7.6 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor. With him off the floor, opponents are outscoring the Bucks by 12.8 points per 100 possessions, per Cleaning the Glass.
This story will be updated.