Giannis Antetokounmpo Injures Knee, Milwaukee Bucks Rout Miami Heat

• Giannis Antetokounmpo sustained another knee injury against the Miami Heat
• He left the game with just a minute left in the first quarter and never returned to the game
• Still, the Bucks cruised to their 13th consecutive victory, beating the Heat 128-99

As superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo exited their 128-99 victory over the Miami Heat with an apparent knee injury, Milwaukee Bucks fans held their breath.

The two-time MVP left the game with 1:13 remaining in the first quarter, but the Bucks registered their 13th consecutive win.

Late in the first period, the 28-year-old posted up on the right block, passed the ball to Jevon Carter, and immediately signaled to the bench.

He started walking off the court while the game continued before the Bucks called time out to help him get out of the game. The 2021 finals MVP limped off to the locker room and never returned, per CBS Sports.

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Bucks coach on Antetokounmpo

Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer is unsure when the injury happened.

"He was basically asking out. Fortunately, we had the ball and I don't think we know exactly when he knocked knees. He was asking for the timeout, so we had to call the timeout... I'm pretty sure it was either on a drive or on a screen that he knocked knees with somebody and just wasn't able to return."

Antetokounmpo was listed on the injury report ahead of the game with a right wrist injury sustained in the Bucks' last game before the All-Star break. He was upgraded from doubtful to questionable to active, per ESPN.

He missed five straight games with left knee soreness in January. The latest incident is with his right knee.

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Budenholzer said they will be treating the injury day-to-day. The Bucks remain second in the Eastern Conference behind the Boston Celtics.

Tatum on Antetokounmpo

Sports Brief earlier reported on Jayson Tatum calling Antetokoumpo the best player in the NBA.

The Boston Celtics star has faced Antetokounmpo several times in the playoffs in the last few seasons, which is high praise from one of his biggest competitors.

"If I had to pick, I think I might say [Antetokounmpo]. The way he impacts both sides; scoring, rebounding, how hard he plays. We all have off nights, but when he has an off night it’s still 25 and 15 instead of 40 and 20. And, he's won. He's won a championship."