Lillard shines as Giannis rests in Bucks' NBA Cup victory
Giannis Antetokounmpo, the NBA‘s top scorer this season, was a surprising late scratch for the Milwaukee Bucks’ NBA Cup matchup against the Miami Heat on Tuesday night due to swelling in his left knee.
Initially, he was expected to suit up, with the Bucks listing him as probable earlier in the day due to a strained left calf. However, the knee issue appeared to worsen shortly before tip-off, sidelining him unexpectedly.
Damian Lillard stepped up in Antetokounmpo’s absence, dropping 37 points to propel the Bucks to a hard-fought 106-103 victory over the Heat, marking their fifth consecutive win.
“I never know,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers admitted about 90 minutes before the game, shortly after learning about the knee concern. “Honestly, that’s breaking news to me, too, right now.”
The Bucks’ next game isn’t until Saturday when they host the Washington Wizards. This gap in their schedule could work in Antetokounmpo’s favor, allowing more recovery time. However, his absence in Tuesday’s NBA Cup game is noteworthy given the NBA’s player participation policy.
According to this rule, “unless a team demonstrates an approved reason for a star player not to participate in a game,” star players must be present for all national television and NBA In-Season Tournament games.
As a two-time MVP and one of the league’s biggest names, Giannis Antetokounmpo clearly meets the criteria for this rule. The game, broadcast nationally on TNT, was also part of the NBA Cup tournament.
Earlier on Tuesday, the league fined the Atlanta Hawks $100,000 for violating this policy when Trae Young sat out a Cup game against Boston on Nov. 12. While Giannis Antetokounmpo’s situation may not necessarily prompt an investigation, it does draw attention to the rule’s enforcement.
The Bucks star has been dominant this season, averaging a career-high 32.4 points on 61% shooting, and played in 16 of Milwaukee’s first 17 games.
“Listen, the way he plays and how he works, there’s going to be things like this,” Rivers said. “And when they come, you just deal with them.”
The Milwaukee Bucks’ 3-0 record in the East Group B bracket of the NBA Cup is generating buzz among fans. With this victory over the Heat, the Bucks have positioned themselves to face the Detroit Pistons on December 3 in a game that will determine the group’s winner. A loss to Miami would have made advancing significantly harder.
Stats: 37 points, 3 rebounds, 12 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 2 fouls, 0 turnovers, 10-17 FG, 8-13 3PT FG, 9-9 FT, 38 mins
Damian Lillard carried Milwaukee’s offense, putting on a dazzling 37-point, 12-assist showcase. He was lethal from beyond the arc, hitting eight of 13 three-pointers, and perfect at the free-throw line, going 9-for-9. Lillard orchestrated the Bucks’ attack with poise, making clutch plays to fend off Miami’s late-game push.
His flawless ball-handling, with zero turnovers, was instrumental in securing the win and keeping Milwaukee’s Cup hopes alive.
Antetokounmpo’s knee swelling marks the first appearance of this particular issue on his medical record. Earlier this year, he dealt with a left calf soleus strain that prematurely ended his season, forcing him to miss the playoffs.
After last year’s significant absence, this new setback is another blow for Bucks fans eager to see their star healthy and leading the charge.
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