Bucks’ Budenholzer Offers Giannis Antetokounmpo Update Ahead of Game 4

The superstar forward has not played since suffering a lower back contusion early in Game 1 on April 16.

Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer provided an update on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s status ahead of Monday’s Game 4 against the Heat as the star forward continues to recover from a lower back contusion.

Budenholzer told reporters on Sunday that Antetokounmpo, who has not played since suffering the injury early in Game 1, participated in individual work on the court at the Kaseya Center but remains without a timeline for a return. Milwaukee, the East’s No. 1 seed, currently trails No. 8 Miami, 2–1, after splitting the last two games without Antetokounmpo.

“We’ll continue to monitor him,” Budenholzer said, per ESPN. “We’ll see how he feels from the session today and see how he wakes up tomorrow.”

With Antetokounmpo’s status still in question, questions regarding his health will continue to loom heavily over the Bucks heading into Monday night. After dominating the Heat in a 138–122 Game 2 victory at home, the Bucks struggled without the two-time MVP on Saturday night, falling on the road in a blowout 121–99 loss.

Despite being listed as questionable the past two games, Antetokounmpo has yet to see the floor since playing just 11 minutes in the team’s 130–117 Game 1 loss on April 16. If he’s unable to return for Game 4, his next opportunity will come in a potential do-or-die Game 5 at Fiserv Forum on April 26.