For the shorthanded Milwaukee Bucks, a tough night against the Philadelphia 76ers just got worse. During the game, forward Kyle Kuzma, who has largely been fit this season, abruptly headed for the locker room.
Why did Kyle Kuzma leave the game? What injury did he suffer?
With about 4:40 left in the final quarter, 76ers forward Paul George drove into the lane, and Kuzma, who was trying to defend him, ended up hobbling out of bounds. He stood there while the play went on. Soon after, on Myles Turner’s free throws from the following play, the Bucks called a timeout, and Kuzma exited the game, heading to the locker room. He did not return to the court.
The forward has missed just two games this season and has played in every matchup this month. With Giannis Antetokounmpo already out, the team is likely to closely monitor Kuzma‘s status. An update is expected soon.
How did Kyle Kuzma perform before leaving?
Kuzma performed well as the Bucks fought back despite being undermanned. In 32 minutes, he logged a near-triple-double with 17 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, moving efficiently as a connective piece while also playing well on defense.
Kuzma’s numbers have risen, especially without Antetokounmpo, averaging 14.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 14 games. His averages overall are 12.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists this season, a marked reduction from his last few years with the Washington Wizards. This is because of a reduced role next to Antetokounmpo following a midseason trade to the Bucks last season, where he now operates primarily as a bench piece.
How did the Milwaukee Bucks adjust without Kuzma?
After Kuzma left the game, the Bucks rolled out a team of Ryan Rollins, Gary Trent Jr., AJ Green, Bobby Portis, and Myles Turner, trying to build a three-point-heavy lineup where Rollins and Portis can create shots for others.
Barring AJ Green, everybody performed well tonight, with Turner having his best game in a Bucks uniform so far.
Jan 27, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) drives against Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) during the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Turner scored 31 points on four threes while also adding two blocks and a steal. Rollins and Portis combined for 41 points, 12 assists, and 20 rebounds, but it simply wasn’t enough.
The 76ers were like a buzzsaw tonight, with George going off for 32 points on nine threes and Joel Embiid logging another monstrous performance, scoring 29 points and grabbing nine boards, six of which were offensive. The Tyrese Maxey-VJ Edgecombe backcourt also played well, with the rookie helping force the Bucks to almost double the 76ers’ turnovers.
The Bucks now drop to the 12th seed in the East, with the Charlotte Hornets overtaking them. As Antetokounmpo’s future remains the biggest question, any form of success is needed, and if their struggles continue, an uncomfortable conversation between the franchise and its star is sure to come up.