Bucks’ Antetokounmpo expects to miss to miss at least a month

PHOENIX, AZ - July 6: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during Game One of the 2021 NBA Finals on July 6, 2021 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler / NBAE / Getty Images / Getty Images via AFP)

Giannis Antetkounmpo was still awaiting the results of an MRI scan on Saturday, but the Milwaukee Bucks star says he expects to miss at least a month with a calf injury.

The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player exited late in the Bucks’ loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday after playing through the injury for much of the contest.

“I was feeling it majority of the game but did not want to stop playing,” Antetokounmpo told reporters after the game. “But at the end, I could not move no more, so I had to stop.”

Antetokounmpo said he felt a “pop” in his calf, and he expected an MRI scan to reveal an injury to his soleus muscle.

“This is from my experience being around the NBA,” he said.

The loss of Antetokounmpo is a blow for a Bucks team that has dropped five of their last six games and are in 11th place in the Eastern Conference — one spot out of the last play-in berth.

“I’m going to work my butt off to come back,” Antetokounmpo said. “Probably be end of February, beginning of March. Hopefully the team will be in a place that we can make at least the play-in or make the playoffs.”

 

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