By Adam Roberts – 6/30/2021
The two teams playing in the Eastern Conference Finals are probably the two teams remaining this postseason who are completely different teams if their number one guy is not on the floor.
Entering Game Five tomorrow, it’s possible both #1s will not be able to play.
The Bucks are holding their breath as star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo battles a left knee injury. Antetokounmpo exited Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals in the second half after hyperextending his left knee. He left for the locker room before coming back to the bench and leaving again. He missed the remainder of the Bucks’ 110-88 loss to the Hawks on a night where Trae Young was out with a bone bruise.
Even before the injury, Milwaukee appeared to be playing very uninspired basketball with a chance to go up three games to one; the Bucks scored just 38 points in the first half. So far this morning there has been no word on whether or not Giannis will be out tomorrow, out for the series, or out for the remainder of the postseason. Typically a hyperextension requires two to four weeks of recovery with limited activity that could further aggravate the injury, and the last thing Milwaukee would want to do is pull a Warriors-with-KD scenario and force their star back too soon.
The series is now tied at two games apiece. Our coverage begins at 7pm!