CHICAGO – The Milwaukee Bucks hope that the return of Giannis Antetokounmpo can help reverse their struggles on the road, as the two-time league MVP is expected to return from a calf strain tonight at the United Center.
“I mean, you’re talking about one of the best players all-time, a top 75 type of player, a guy on that list,” Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr. said of his teammate’s impending return. “Probably one of the top three, five best players in the league right now, so obviously that gives you a total different look. Guys will probably be more open from three, his gravity probably creates (space) on the court, guys building walls and him getting guys open shots and maybe that percentage goes up, guys get more open shots, things like that. It’s been a roller coaster, up and down hill thing, obviously the team is built primarily around him to help him be the best he can be. So it’s going to be great to have him back whether that’s (in Chicago) or (Dec. 29 in Charlotte) or (Dec. 31 vs. Washington) or whenever it is. Just super excited for it. It’s been a long time coming. We haven’t had him in like three weeks, so definitely need him back.”
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Antetokounmpo strained the soleus muscle in his right calf on Dec. 3 and has missed the Bucks’ last eight games, during which they have gone 1-7. Milwaukee was 1-4 on the road in that stretch of games, including a loss in Memphis on Dec. 26, and are just 4-11 away from Fiserv Forum on the year.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks the ball during the first half of their Nov. 7 game against the Chicago Bulls at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
The 31-year-old forward has gradually ramped up his work at shootarounds and got through a three-on-three session Dec. 23 in Indianapolis. He participated in the team’s shootaround Dec. 26 in Memphis and the Grizzlies home television broadcast said the star was expected to play against the Bulls on Dec. 27.
The Journal Sentinel confirmed that expectation via a team source late in Memphis, provided Antetokounmpo gets through his usual pregame work feeling OK. When Antetokounmpo returned from a strained left adductor in late November, he was initially on a minute restriction and played 28 minutes in a loss at New York on Nov. 28.
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“He’s Giannis, so we’ve been missing him a lot,” Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. said. “Whenever he comes back we’re gonna, I hope that we still be aggressive, not just think that Giannis is going to come full strength. He’s been out for a little bit. So we gotta still hold our own and let him ease into it and get his rhythm. But it’s going to be tremendously different with him. He’s the top, best player in the world, shoot. When you’ve got the best player in the world on your team and on the floor, he demands respect.”
Chicago is one of the hottest teams in the NBA, having won five straight and are 15-15 on the year. They beat the Philadelphia 76ers at home on Dec. 26.
Milwaukee is 12-19 and has struggled since beating the Bulls 126-110 at Fiserv Forum on Nov. 7 when Chicago had won six of its first seven games of the year.
Is Giannis playing?
He is expected to. Antetokounmpo has missed 14 of the Bucks’ 31 games, and has left two other games early with injuries. Milwaukee is 3-11 in games he has missed outright and 1-1 in the games he did not finish.
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Antetokounmpo has not played a full game since a loss at Washington on Dec. 1 when he scored 26 points and had seven rebounds and five turnovers against four assists, and notably did not get back on defense in the final moments, which led to a big, go-ahead shot from Wizards veteran Khris Middleton.
What time is the Bucks game?
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.
What channel is the Bucks game on?
The game will be broadcast locally on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin with Lisa Byington, Wesley Matthews and Melanie Ricks on the call.
Bucks probable starting lineup
Guards: Kevin Porter Jr., AJ Green, Gary Trent Jr.
Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Bucks vs. Bulls odds
The Bulls are 4.5-point favorites over the Bucks, and the over/under is set at 233.5 points per BetMGM.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Bucks injury report: Giannis expected back tonight vs. Bulls