Milwaukee Bucks followers acquired an early Christmas current Friday.
Truly two. After which the presents stored approaching Christmas morning.
On Friday, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis weren’t on the staff’s harm report, giving the staff hope that the 2 may return for the Christmas Day sport in opposition to the COVID-19 ravaged Boston Celtics.
Antetokounmpo has been in the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols since Dec. 14. He was required to be out a minimal of 10 days or after he produced two consecutive destructive COVID-19 assessments no less than 24 hours aside.
Portis entered the league’s health and safety protocols a day after Antetokounmpo following his 20-point, nine-rebound sport within the staff’s 114-99 win over the Indiana Pacers Dec. 15.
It will be a present for head coach Mike Budenholzer and his workers to get these two gamers again, however one other participant is anticipated to swimsuit up for the primary time on Christmas. Shams Charania of the Athletic reported Bucks guard Donte DiVincenzo will make his season debut in opposition to the Celtics. DiVincenzo hasn’t performed all season after injuring his ankle during last season’s playoffs. He was scheduled to return Dec. 15 when he too went into the NBA’s well being and security protocols Dec. 14, the identical day as Antetokounmpo. DiVincenzo was listed on the staff’s harm report Friday as questionable.
DiVincenzo acknowledged his pending return in a tweet Saturday morning.
In a pre-game interview Saturday, Budenholzer mentioned he anticipated all three to play Saturday.
“We’re full anticipating (Giannis, Bobby and Dante) to be able to go,” Budenholzer mentioned.
Antetokounmpo was seen on the courtroom forward of the sport going by way of his common heat ups.
The Bucks (21-13) have gone 3-2 in Antetokounmpo’s absence, the most recent a win over the Dallas Mavericks Thursday night, a staff additionally hit by COVID-19.
Antetokounmpo, the reigning NBA Finals MVP and two-time league MVP, is averaging 27.0 factors, 11.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.6 blocks this season.
Wesley Matthews, who went into the well being and security protocols Dec. 11, returned to the staff this week.
With all of the gamers reportedly out of the protocols, Brook Lopez was the one different participant on the Bucks’ harm report Friday. Lopez had back surgery earlier this month and a timetable on his return is unknown.
Whereas the Bucks improved their COVID-19 standing, the Celtics continued to lose gamers.
Their harm record Friday resembled a youngster’s lengthy Christmas record. It didn’t appear to finish. Fourteen gamers had been listed on the harm record, 12 of whom had been within the league’s well being and security protocols. Simply on Friday, 5 gamers had been added to the protocols record. In complete, eight will likely be out Saturday on account of COVID-19 associated points. One other 4 gamers who’re within the well being and security protocols enter the sport as questionable.
Whether or not all three of the Bucks gamers who had been within the protocols play is to be decided — they will all should undergo a course of on the courtroom to return primarily based on how they felt whereas out.
However not showing on the harm report is an efficient signal for the Bucks and the NBA, a league coping with a rash of COVID-19 outbreaks. The Brooklyn Nets have been devastated by COVID-19 over the past week and will likely be with out star Kevin Durant for his or her Christmas Day showdown with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Bucks and Celtics are scheduled to tip off at 1:30 p.m. at Fiserv Discussion board.
Contact Christopher Kuhagen at (262) 446-6634 or christopher.kuhagen@jrn.com. Observe him on Twitter at @ckuhagen and our newsroom Instagram accounts at MyCommunityNow and Lake Country Now.
