ORLANDO – The Milwaukee Bucks ruled out Giannis Antetokounmpo for their game against the Orlando Magic with a non-COVID-19 illness on Tuesday afternoon. He was originally listed as probable to play with right knee soreness.
The team also ruled out all-star point guard Jrue Holiday with neck soreness. He began the day as questionable to play.
“Visiting with him a little bit, I think it’s just kind of been coming so I don’t think it was — so if it was incident based I don’t think it was the Washington game — it’s just kind of gotten kind of progressively worse,” Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer said. “Hopefully its short term. We’ll just see how he feels day to day.”
Khris Middleton made his first start since Dec. 15.
The Bucks face the Magic at 6 p.m. at the Amway Center. Follow here for game updates.
This will be the 13th game Antetokounmpo has missed and the 12th for Holiday. They have missed the same game just four times, and the Bucks are 2-2 in those contests.
Bucks sign Lindell Wigginton to two-way contract
The Bucks maxed out their roster on Tuesday by signing guard Lindell Wigginton to a two-way contract, filling the spot vacated when the team waived Sandro Mamukelashvili. Wigginton had played the entire season with the Wisconsin Herd, averaging 18.6 points and 5.8 assists in 35 games. He played in 19 games with the Bucks last season while also on a two-way deal.
“We’re big fans of Lindell the player first and foremost, but the human too,” Budenholzer said. “He’s great with our guys, our guys; there’s a comfort level with him. I think he earned a lot of our trust and respect when he played with us last year. He know sour stuff, been playing with the Herd in the G League, so it made sense so it was a good add for us. The timing, the fact he was here playing in Orlando this morning in a game now will be suited up an d ready to play tonight. We’ve been monitoring and watching him obviously and now to add him to the group is good.’
Wigginton was in Orlando with the Herd, as the team played the Magic’s G League affiliate earlier on Tuesday afternoon.
Video of the game is Khris Middleton’s early basket after starting
It’s not so much that Middleton began the game with 7 points and 3 assists in the first quarter, but it’s that he started for the first time since December. He assisted on three of the Bucks’ first four baskets before looking for his shot to help the Bucks take a 36-26 first quarter lead.
Starting represented a next step in the three-time all-star’s return to a more regular minutes workload for the Bucks.
Bucks injury report
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (non-COVID illness), out
- Jrue Holiday (neck soreness), out
- Wesley Matthews (right calf strain), out
- Goran Dragić (left knee soreness), out”I think him getting with our medical group, kind of testing, seeing where everything is and then working on strength and specific things, I think we’re hopeful that very soon he’ll be in a good place and be available and ready to help,” Budenholzer…
Read More: Giannis, Holiday ruled out for Bucks vs. Magic, game updates 2023-03-08 00:23:24