![\"Giannis](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/antetokounmpo0608.jpg\")
File photo\nBucks<\/p>\n
File photo
\nBucks<\/p>\n
Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a> missed Wednesday\u2019s game in Charlotte with what the Bucks listed as patellar tendinopathy in his left knee, though coach Doc Rivers<\/a> made it clear they were mostly protecting their superstar during a brutal stretch of the schedule.<\/p>\n Milwaukee is in the middle of a five-games-in-seven-days run, and Rivers said this matchup had long been circled as the logical rest spot.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just a lot,\u201d Rivers told reporters, via Eric Nehm of The Athletic<\/a>. \u201cIf we were going to sit him, this was the game. It gives him four days off. I was actually trying to talk him into not playing, which is rare for me.\u201d<\/p>\n Antetokounmpo has been dominant through his first 10 outings, averaging 33.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.3 blocks in just under 33 minutes a night. He has now missed two games this season.<\/p>\n The Bucks won without him on October 30 against Golden State but dropped Wednesday\u2019s meeting with the Hornets, falling to 7-5.<\/p>\n Pacers<\/p>\n T.J. McConnell<\/a> finally made his season debut Tuesday, but it didn\u2019t change the result. Indiana gave up 152 points in a blowout loss to Utah, the most allowed by the defending East champs this season.<\/p>\n McConnell didn\u2019t sugarcoat anything afterward.<\/p>\n \u201cPitiful,\u201d McConnell said of the defensive effort, via Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star<\/a>. \u201cWe just have to be better in terms of fight and pride.\u201d<\/p>\n The Pacers are now 1-10 and still searching for any sort of foothold after opening the year with a long list of injuries.<\/p>\n Lakers<\/p>\n South Bay is closing in on the acquisition of guard Kobe Bufkin<\/a>, who is entering the G League player pool, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN<\/a>.<\/p>\n Whether South Bay claims him directly or trades for his rights after another team makes a claim, the expectation is that he will land with the Lakers\u2019 affiliate.<\/p>\n The 15th pick in the 2023 draft, Bufkin never found traction in Atlanta because of a string of injuries: a fractured left thumb, a sprained toe, and ultimately season-ending shoulder surgery in December 2024.<\/p>\n He made only 27 NBA appearances in two seasons. Brooklyn took a flier on him this offseason but waived him in October during roster cuts.<\/p>\n Bufkin was a productive scorer and playmaker at Michigan and excelled in the G League in 2023-24, averaging 23.6 points and 5.9 assists for College Park. If he proves he\u2019s healthy, he should get a real look.<\/p>\n With only two years of NBA service, he remains eligible for a two-way contract.<\/p>\n Looking for the latest NBA Insider News & Rumors?<\/p>\n Be sure to follow Hoops Wire<\/a> on TWITTER<\/a>\u00a0and FACEBOOK<\/a>\u00a0for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!<\/p>\n