Tag: giannis antetokounmpo

Is Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo playing vs. Kings? Latest injury update

The Milwaukee Bucks (4-1) may be without star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo on Sunday as they close out a three-game homestand against the Sacramento Kings (1-4). The team listed Antetokounmpo as questionable with left knee patellar tendinopathy on Saturday’s injury report.

The 30-year-old last played on Tuesday in the Bucks’ 121-111 win over the New York Knicks, where he recorded 37 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, two blocks, and one steal while shooting 16-of-22 from the field in 33 minutes. If Antetokounmpo is unavailable, it would mark his second missed game of the 2025-26 season.

Through four appearances, Antetokounmpo has delivered dominant numbers, averaging 36.3 points, 14.0 rebounds, seven assists, and 1.3 blocks per game. He is shooting 69.5% from the field and 57.1% from three-point range in 32.8 minutes per contest.

Milwaukee will also remain without guard Kevin Porter Jr., who is sidelined with a right knee meniscus tear. Porter Jr. has not played since the team’s season-opening win over the Washington Wizards, where he posted 10 points in nine minutes before exiting. The Bucks announced Friday that he will undergo a minor orthopedic procedure and is expected to miss approximately four weeks. The injury occurred during return-to-play work following an ankle issue.

Despite Antetokounmpo’s uncertain availability, the Bucks have remained competitive. Ryan Rollins led Milwaukee to a 120-110 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, finishing with 32 points, eight assists, and three rebounds while shooting 13-of-21 from the field and 5-of-7 from beyond the arc in 36 minutes.

Milwaukee enters Sunday’s matchup seeking its third straight win, while Sacramento is trying to recover from a slow 1-4 start to the season. The Kings are coming off back-to-back losses and will face a Bucks team looking to close out its homestand on a strong note.

Following Sunday’s contest, Milwaukee begins a two-game road trip. The Bucks will face the winless Indiana Pacers (0-5) on Monday at 7:00 p.m. ET, followed by a matchup against the Toronto Raptors (2-4) on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Antetokounmpo’s status will be monitored ahead of tip-off at 5:00 p.m. ET. The team has not announced a timetable for his return, and his availability will likely be a game-time decision.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/bucks-news-is-giannis-antetokounmpo-playing-vs-kings-latest-injury-update

Warriors’ Steve Kerr fires back at Michael Jordan’s old-school load management take

As the Golden State Warriors fell to the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night, 120-110, the loss came without the Bucks’ star Giannis Antetokounmpo in the lineup. While some might argue that the Warriors have dominated teams featuring players like Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry, the conversation around load management remains very much alive.

Recently, basketball legend Michael Jordan stated in an NBC interview that load management is unnecessary. However, Golden State head coach Steve Kerr offered a differing perspective. Acknowledging Jordan’s position, Kerr explained the unique challenges his team faces with veteran players such as Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and Al Horford.

“For us, four of our top guys are 35-39,” Kerr said, according to The Athletic. “We now have performance teams. When I played with the Bulls, we had one trainer and one weight coach. And now we have reams of data (from) our performance team, which is comprised of 10 people or so.”

He continued, “They’re advising me when our guys are more vulnerable to injury. I believe in this stuff. I believe in the science, and I believe in having players healthy for the playoffs. And if you can try to get there, and it means resting guys along the way, then I’m all for doing so because that’s what counts come playoff time.”

Kerr emphasized that while there isn’t exact data to predict every injury, there are identifiable patterns. “I do think that there are patterns that we can see, that the experts can see, that can help us navigate through the season.”

### Steve Kerr on the Demands of the 82-Game Schedule

Despite the loss to the Bucks, the Warriors have had a dominant start to the season. When asked about how defense is played in today’s NBA, Kerr highlighted how teams manage the grueling 82-game schedule, especially with constant travel.

“This will be our sixth game in 10 games in four cities. Next 10, I think eight of them are on the road. When all is said and done, of our first 15 games, I think they’ll come in 26 days in 10 different cities,” Kerr explained.

“To ask our players to sprint, either full-court pressure, either dealing with it or applying it, racing out to the 3-point line, covering 3-point shooters, and then playing at this tempo is dramatically different from what it was 20 years ago.”

### Looking Ahead

The Golden State Warriors currently hold a 4-2 record as they prepare to take on the Indiana Pacers this Saturday. With load management strategies in place and a demanding schedule ahead, Kerr and his team aim to stay healthy and competitive throughout the season, with an eye firmly set on the playoffs.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-news-steve-kerr-fires-back-michael-jordans-old-school-load-management-take

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