Sunday 7 April 2019 08:33, UK
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer has admitted that All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo could sit out the remainder of the regular season.
The Bucks (59-21) clinched the top seeding in the Eastern Conference for the playoffs, which begin next weekend, by beating the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, before Antetokounmpo sat out Saturday night's loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
Budenholzer insisted that Antetokounmpo's absence was down to a calf injury picked up during his 45-point showing against the Sixers, but the 24-year-old appeared comfortable as he went through his normal warm-up routine before watching his team-mates from the bench.
"I think we all are hoping that he can push through or be healthy going forward," Budenholzer said after Saturday's game.
"We'll just see how he's feeling after tonight and either bring out the bubble wrap or keep playing.
"We've talked about it before the game, balancing our health, his health, with him playing well and feeling good going into the playoffs. It's hard to have both but we're certainly going to try and have that."
Antetokounmpo has put together a stunning season, with averages of 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game catapulting him into a two-horse race for the MVP award with Houston Rockets guard James Harden.
The 'Greek Freak' missed last Sunday's game against the Atlanta Hawks, but had appeared back to his dominant best in the two subsequent victories that secured the Bucks the top seed.
The Bucks close out their season with home games against the Atlanta Hawks and Oklahoma City Thunder, before embarking on a playoff journey that they hope will run all the way to the NBA finals in June.
Their first-round opponent is unlikely to be confirmed until the final night of the regular season, with the Brooklyn Nets, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets still disputing the final three playoff spots in the East.
