What Does Giannis Antetokounmpo's Injury Mean For The Miami Heat?

Anthony Pasciolla | Apr 9, 2024

Apr 9, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34); Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports / Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo left Tuesday's game against the Boston Celtics with an injury, but how does this affect the Miami Heat?

The Bucks are a likely first-round matchup for the Heat, assuming they make it out of the Play-In Tournament. If Antetokounmpo's injury is minor, he will be prepared come playoff time. However, in the unfortunate event that a serious injury was sustained during the game, coach Erik Spoelstra's assignment becomes much easier.

Antetokounmpo departed from the game in the third quarter with an apparent left calf injury. He was running up the floor when the 29-year-old forward fell to the floor, grabbing his leg. His teammates assisted him off the court as he headed to the locker room. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Antetokounmpo "will undergo an MRI on his left calf, sources tell ESPN."

"High, I would say that," Rivers said when asked about his concern level. "He's Giannis. I think everyone probably feels the same way as I do right now. We're just going to hope for the best."

Antetokounmpo is averaging 30.7 points and 11.6 rebounds on 61.1 percent shooting in 72 appearances. While MVP is out of the cards for him this season, a dominant postseason run is a strong possibility if he's healthy.

"Any time you see one of your teammates go down, it's I think a real level of concern," teammate Damian Lillard said. "We spend a lot of time around each other, more than we would our families. I think that was the No. 1 thing. And then for it to be your best player, the most important part of our team, at this point in the season, it was like an, 'Oh, (damn)' moment, especially because there was nobody else around."

Anthony Pasciolla is a contributor to Inside The Heat. He can be reached at ampasciolla@gmail.com or on Instagram @anthony.pasciolla