Giannis Antetokounmpo out for Game 5; and Bam Adebayo makes NBA All-Defensive Team
Giannis Antetokounmpo reportedly will not play for the Milwaukee Bucks in their must-win Game 5 against the Miami Heat on Tuesday.
The Bucks ruled out the superstar shortly before tipoff in Lake Buena Vista. The forward, who is a finalist for the 2020 NBA Most Valuable Player Award, reinjured his right ankle in Milwaukee’s 118-115 overtime win against the Heat in Game 4 on Sunday. He went through his pregame routine Tuesday before the Bucks announced he would not play.
“We’ll just have to put our heads together and make a decision,” Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer said, declaring Antetokounmpo’s status to be a game-time decision. “It’s good to see him just on the court shooting it a little bit, just as planned.”
Antetokounmpo arrived at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex arena wearing a protective boot on his right foot Tuesday. He rode a stationary bike ahead of warm-ups, then went through a typical pregame routine, starting with shots near the rim and steadily stretching out to the perimeter. In the end, the sprained right ankle was too much for the reigning MVP to overcome.
With 10:18 left in the second quarter Sunday, Antetokounmpo drove to the basket against wing Andre Iguodala. He drew a foul and landed awkwardly on his right ankle, falling to the ground while screaming and grabbing at the joint. He shot the two free throws, then checked out with 10:17 left and did not return.
The ankle was already ailing and nagging at the forward, and the Bucks officially ruled him out at halftime. Milwaukee trailed by one when Antetokounmpo checked out, and fell behind by as much as 12 in the third quarter before rallying to win 118-115 in overtime and force a Game 5 behind a four-guard lineup.
Miami, which holds a 3-1 series lead, was outscored by 20 points when the Bucks were using a lineup of center Brook Lopez and guards Eric Bledsoe, Khris Middleton, George Hill and Donte DiVincenzo.
“We covered both today in the walkthrough,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “The most important thing is we have to be who we are. We’re at Game 5 right now, so with Giannis or without him both teams have a pretty good idea of how they want to play. It’s who can impose their identity for longer stretches and periods of the game, and that’s what we’re focusing on coming into tonight.”
The Heat is at full strength after three rotation players were listed as questionable on the injury report Monday. Forward Jae Crowder is playing despite a left ankle sprain, rookie wing Tyler Herro is playing despite a right hip bruise and post player Kelly Olynyk is playing despite a right knee bruise. Crowder is once again in the starting lineup, while Herro and Olynyk are coming off the bench.
Adebayo makes All-Defensive team
Add another accolade for Bam Adebayo in his breakout season.
The All-Star post player is a second-team selection for the 2020 NBA All-Defensive Team. The league announced the 10 members of the All-Defensive Team on Tuesday before the start of Game 5 in Walt Disney World.
All-Star wing Jimmy Butler, however, was left off both teams.
The full first team: point guard Ben Simmons, guard Marcus Smart, post player Anthony Davis, center Rudy Gobert and Antetokounmpo. The full second team: Adebayo, center Brook Lopez, wing Kawhi Leonard, and guards Patrick Beverley and Eric Bledsoe.
This story was originally published September 8, 2020 at 5:49 PM.
