As Game 1 of the NBA Finals approaches, the biggest storyline of the season-ending series is the status of Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and whether he will be able to play against the Suns in the opening game.
"The Greek Freak" mi sed the last two-plus games of the Eastern Conference finals against the Hawks, exiting Game 4 with a hyperextended left knee in Atlanta. The Hawks bludgeoned Milwaukee 110-88 after his exit, but Antetekounmpo's teammates stepped up in Games Vinny Curry Jersey 5 and 6 to secure a 4-2 series win and send Milwaukee to its first NBA Finals since 1974 all without the two-time defending NBA MVP.
That said, Milwaukee still is uncertain as to when exactly Antetkounmpo will be able to play against the Suns, who alongside Chris Paul, are looking for their first NBA championship. The Bucks have a minimum of four games to get Antetokounmpo back into the lineup, but the franchise obviously would prefer him to get back as soon as po sible.
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Here are the latest updates on Antetokounmpo ahead of Tuesday's series-opening game for the NBA Finals:
Will Giannis Antetokounmpo play vs. Suns?
Update: Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported at 8:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday just a half-hour before tipoff that Antetokounmpo will play in Game 1 of the NBA Finals:
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) will play tonight in Game Jamien Sherwood Jersey 1 of The Finals against the Phoenix Suns, league sources tell .
Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes)
The Bucks confirmed Haynes' report:
Giannis is AVAILABLE and will start in Game 1 of the .
Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks)
Original: The Bucks on Sunday released a brief clip of Antetkounmpo entering the team's plane with the caption, "Off to Phoenix."
Off to Phoenix.
Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks)
While that suggests he will be able to play at some point in the series, it does not provide any clue as to when (moreover, the team's social media account is not nece sarily a source of official team news or updates).
On Tuesday, ESPN reporter Malika Andrews tweeted that Joe Klecko Jersey Antetokounmpo had been upgraded from doubtful to questionable for Tuesday.
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has been upgraded from doubtful to questionable on this afternoons injury report.
Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews)
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer on Monday provided a , saying he was "making progre s." He added no other updates to his status, which is still in the air for Game 1. That e sentially is what he said following the team's Game 6 win in the Eastern Conference finals:
"I mean, (Giannis) and the sports performance team, they have been together a long time. It's special to watch their relationship. It's special Justin Hardee Jersey to watch the communication, the trust that he has. You have to listen to the player and then you have to listen to the sports performance group, and at some point, Jon Horst and myself are part of the conversations, but it's just a day-to-day thing. We'll update it when appropriate. The conversations between he and myself and he and the sports performance group, it's kind of private and we'll see where he is each day."
The NBA on Monday said Antetokounmpo would not practice that day ahead of Game 1 of the finals, adding that he was because of his uncertain status. However, NBA TV' Sheldon Rankins Jersey s Jared Greenberg reported Monday that, while Antetkounmpo wasn't with the team, he was in a private gym in Phoenix in front of several people a sociated with the organization, including trainers, coaches, people in his own camp and front office executives trying to get game-ready for Tuesday's series opener.
While Greenberg reported Antetkounmpo's status was still uncertain, he said it was described to him that "Giannis is going to fight tooth and nail to be in the lineup."
Giannis is going to fight tooth and nail to be Cameron Clark Jersey in the lineup. provides an update on Giannis ahead of the NBA Finals.
NBA TV (@NBATV)
Greenberg also noted that there's only one day between Games 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals, but two days between Games 2 and 3 and Games 3 and 4, respectively. The Bucks may consider using Tuesday and Wednesday as additional rest days for Antetkounmpo, ensuring he's adequately rested and prepared to enter the series during Game 2.
Bucks vs. Suns Game 1 injury report
(This section will be updated with injury reports from the Bucks and Suns ahead of Game 1)
TeamPlayerStatusReasonBucksGiannis AntetokounmpoAvailableLeft knee hyperextension
One Houston team did win Wednesday but it was not the one in Minute Maid Park.
The Rockets took down the Wizards in Washington D.C. and did so behind another ridiculous James Harden performance.
The 2017-18 Ty France Jersey NBA MVP dropped 59 points on 18-of-32 shooting while going 17 of 18 from the free-throw line in a 159-158 win over the Wizards on the road. The 159 points is a Rockets' franchiserecord.
. doing work with 59 points tonight!
Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets)
And Houston needed every Andres Munoz Jersey single one of those points as Bradley Beal scored 46 of his own on 14-of-20 shooting including 7 of 12 from beyond the 3-point line. The 158 points allowed was not a record.
46 points 8 a sists 6 reboundsWhat a night for ! |
Washington Wizards (@WashWizards)
Ru sell Westbrook had another triple-double scoring 17 points while adding 12 a sists and 10 rebounds and was proud of how the Rollie Fingers Jersey team battled despite the difficulty in stopping the Wizards.
"We had a tough night defensively," Westbrook told reporters, via the Houston Chronicle. "One thing about this team, we dont quit. We dont give in, we stayed locked in through all their runs and towards the end of the game.
Ru sell Westbrook: "We had a tough night defensively. One thing about this team, we dont quit. We dont give in, we stayed locked in through all their runs and towards the end of the game.
Jonathan Feigen Blake Snell Jersey (@Jonathan_Feigen) Studs of the Night
Tristan Thompson had 23 points and 10 rebounds in the Cavaliers' 117-111 win over the Bulls.
Nikola Vucevic had 21 points and 13 rebounds in the Magic's 95-83 win over the Knicks.
Pascal Siakam had 30 points in a 125-113 Raptors win over the Austin Hedges Jersey Pistons. Andre Drummond had 21 points and 22 rebounds in a losing effort.
Kemba Walker had 32 points, six rebounds and six a sists in the Celtics' 116-105 win over the Bucks.
Dud of the Night
Andrew Wiggins had decent offensive numbers with 19 points but the team was minus-27 with him on the floor in the Timberwolves' 117-95 lo s to the 76ers.
Highlight
Domantas Sabonis had 29 points and a nifty move to the basket in the Pacers' 118-108 win over the Nets.
DOMAS CAN'T BE STOPPED TONIGHT (OR EVER, FOR THAT MATTER)
Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) What's Next
Nuggets (3 Gerardo Reyes Jersey -1) at Pelicans (0-4), 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT) The Pelicans are still trying to get their first win of the year and they welcome a talented and deep Denver team to New Orleans for the late TNT game on Thursday.