Bucks remain without Giannis Antetokounmpo for Game 3 vs. Heat due to back injury

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo remains out.

Antetokounmpo began Saturday as questionable on the injury report before he was ruled out for Game 3 of the Bucks’ first-round playoff series against the Heat less than two hours before tipoff because of a lower back contusion he sustained in Game 1.

The injury limited Antetokounmpo to just 11 minutes in Game 1 last Sunday after hurting his back in the first quarter and he has now missed Games 2 and 3. When asked prior to Saturday’s game if Antetokounmpo continues to make progress in his recovery, Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer offered a one-word answer of, “Yes.”

“I think we’ll continue to monitor him through the day tomorrow, through the day the next day,” Budenholzer said. “These things, I don’t think it’s always just this linear thing. He’s not in a place where he can go, so we’ll just continue to monitor him, work with him and hope for the best.”

The next opportunity for Antetokounmpo to return will be in Game 4 on Monday in Miami.

Antetokounmpo, who is one of the three finalists for the NBA’s MVP award, averaged 31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game this regular season.

Coincidentally, Antetokounmpo has played in only one full game against the Heat this season. He missed two of the four regular-season matchups because of left knee soreness, left another after just six minutes of action because of a knee injury, before exiting Game 1 of this playoff series early and then missing Games 2 and 3.

“We’ve played them in this series with and without him, and we’ve also played them in the regular season,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said regarding the uncertainty surrounding Antetokounmpo’s status for the rest of the series. “You go through your prep, but it still comes down to your game. Can you get to your game consistently and impose your will on the game.”

Along with missing Antetokounmpo, the Bucks remain without guard Wesley Matthews because of a strained right calf. Matthews, who also missed Game 2, logged 18 minutes off Milwaukee’s bench in Game 1 and spent most of his minutes guarding Heat star Jimmy Butler.

On the Heat’s injury report for Game 2, Tyler Herro (right hand surgery) and Nikola Jovic (back spasms) were ruled out.

SERIES DETAILS

With the Philadelphia 76ers completing the 4-0 sweep of the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday, Game 4 between the Heat and Bucks is set for 7:30 p.m. on Monday at Kaseya Center. The game will be aired on TNT and Bally Sports Sun.

Game 5 of the Heat-Bucks series at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee is scheduled for Wednesday at 9:30 p.m on NBA TV and Bally Sports Sun.

The date and start time for Games 6 and 7, if they’re necessary, have not yet been announced.