Giannis Antetokounmpo has no structural damage in knee after awkward fall in Game 4



Giannis Antetokounmpo may be able to return to the court sooner than initially expected.

The Milwaukee Bucks star suffered no structural damage in his left knee after he took a brutal fall in their 110-88 loss to the Atlanta Hawks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday night, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

While his ligaments are fine, the Bucks do not yet have a timetable for his return. The team listed him as doubtful for Game 5 of the series.

Antetokounmpo left Game 4 against the Hawks with just over seven minutes remaining in the third quarter with what the Bucks say is a hyperextended knee. He had jumped up to contest an alley-oop from John Collins to Clint Capela, and Antetokounmpo landed awkwardly on his left leg, his knee buckling.

He immediately fell to the floor and stayed down on the ground for several minutes -- with Bucks and Hawks players and coaches surrounding him -- before sitting up. The two-time MVP was helped to his feet by his brother and teammate, Thanasis, and walked gingerly off the court with his help. Television monitors showed Antetokounmpo walking back to the locker room without assistance, but he had a significant limp.

Antetokounmpo has been averaging 28.2 points, 12.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists in the postseason

"We've played games without Giannis, without Khris [Middleton], without Jrue [Holiday], and hopefully you have a structure and a system where you can function at a high level on both ends of the floor no matter who is playing," Budenholzer said about the possibility of playing without Antetokounmpo in Game 5. 먹튀검증

Atlanta had a 10-point lead at the time of the injury and won Game 4 in a 110-88 rout without Young, who was out with a bone bruise in his right foot and will be a "game-time decision" on Thursday, coach Nate McMillan said.

Capela was diagnosed with eye inflammation after taking an inadvertent elbow to his right eye in the closing minutes of Game 4. The Hawks' top rebounder left the court with a towel over his face and did not return. He was checked by the team ophthalmologist and checked again after the team arrived in Milwaukee.