Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo left Monday night’s 118–106 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers early after suffering a groin injury in the second quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Antetokounmpo Injured in Second Quarter Against Cavaliers
Late in the second quarter, Antetokounmpo drove into the post against Jarrett Allen but landed awkwardly after missing a layup. The two-time MVP immediately reached toward his groin area and grimaced in visible pain as play continued down the court.
Though he briefly remained in the game, Antetokounmpo’s movement was clearly restricted. Moments later, during a stoppage, he limped off the court and headed straight to the locker room.
The Bucks ruled him out at halftime with what they described as a left groin strain. Head coach Doc Rivers told reporters afterward that Antetokounmpo would undergo imaging tests on Tuesday.
“We won’t know anything until tomorrow,” Rivers said, via The Athletic’s Eric Nehm. “It didn’t look great, I can tell you that.”
Bucks Struggle Without Their Superstar
Before exiting, Antetokounmpo had 14 points and five rebounds, leading Milwaukee in first-half scoring. The 30-year-old entered the game averaging 32.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game, ranking second in the NBA in scoring behind Luka Dončić of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Despite trailing by just two points at halftime, the Bucks faltered in the second half without their leader. The Cavaliers pulled away late in the fourth quarter to secure the 12-point win.
Cavaliers Dominate Behind Mitchell’s Big Night
Donovan Mitchell powered Cleveland with 37 points and seven assists, while Sam Merrill added 20 points on six three-pointers. Evan Mobley chipped in 14 points as the Cavaliers improved to 10-5 on the season.
For the Bucks, Ryan Rollins led the way with 24 points, including 5-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc. Myles Turner contributed 15 points and seven rebounds in the loss, which marked Milwaukee’s second straight defeat and dropped them to 8-7 overall.
What’s Next for Milwaukee
The Bucks will return home to face the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, kicking off a three-game homestand at Fiserv Forum. Antetokounmpo’s status remains uncertain pending medical evaluation results.
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