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Lillard will try to play; what is Giannis’ status
CHICAGO – The Milwaukee Bucks try to bounce back from a disappointing loss on Thursday night as they face the struggling Chicago Bulls at the United Center on Saturday night.
The Bucks just beat the Bulls on their home court, 112-91, on Dec. 23. This will be the fourth and final regular-season game between the teams. Chicago (13-18) has lost three in a row and five of eight. Milwaukee (16-13) has won five of its last eight.
Is Giannis playing?
No. The Bucks’ MVP candidate has been out of action since Dec. 20, first with back spasms (Dec. 21-23) and then with an illness (Dec. 26). He began the day as questionable to play with that illness but was not seen at shootaround in the afternoon. Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said Antetokounmpo did travel to Chicago initially but was sent home as he was ruled out as the team arrived to the United Center.
What is the Bucks record without Giannis?
3-2
Damian Lillard will try to play vs. Bulls
The all-star point guard began the day as questionable to play with the illness that has been going around the locker room for the better part of December — but Lillard said at shootaround on Saturday morning he’d like to give it a go. Rivers then said pregame that Lillard will play and will not have a minute restriction.
“It’s just to watch (him),” Rivers said. “I don’t know what this thing is going around but a lot of people have had it. Everyone has a different take on it but the one group that had the chest stuff, that seems to be more difficult because as far as we know breathing is really important in this game. He looked good (Friday). We did some three-on-three live stuff to see if he could get through it and he got through it. So we’ll see how he does today.”
The Bucks have gone 2-2 without Lillard in the lineup over the last week.
“Couple days ago, I tried to work out — the night before the Brooklyn game (on Dec. 26) — because I wanted to play against Brooklyn, but I mean, the whole time I was working out, it just kept making me cough, coughing up (expletive),” he said. “I got through the workout, but I couldn’t breathe good.
“So, the last couple days, that’s all I’ve been doing. Just trying to work that stuff out and it’s still been like having me super-winded, but I mean, I guess at some point, you just gotta get out there and burn it out. So, that’s what my plan is, at least.”
Lillard acknowledged that he lost a couple of pounds because he didn’t eat for a few days and stayed hydrated. He also said he sweated profusely as he recovered. It was anything but just sitting home and resting.
“I (expletive) wish it was that,” he said. “I’ll tell you that. I was just telling them earlier, like I’ve never been that sick before in my entire life. Like I’ve never been that sick before in my entire life. I wasn’t throwing up, nothing. I just didn’t eat for two days. I didn’t eat at all. I didn’t get up, nothing. I was down. It was bad.”
Lillard has not played a regular-season game since Dec. 14 when the Bucks beat Atlanta in the Emirates NBA Cup semifinal in Las Vegas, and it was in that game when he aggravated his right calf muscle. He played on it — and tweaked the muscle again — in the NBA Cup final against Oklahoma City on Dec. 17.
He was then immediately ruled out for the Bucks’ next two regular-season games with a strain in the calf on Dec. 20-21. While he admitted in Las Vegas that anytime he suffers a calf injury there may be some concern (he strained the calf in 2022 in Portland and strained his right Achilles last playoffs) he said this wasn’t that bad and he is recovered from it.
“It wasn’t; it was a mild strain to begin with,” Lillard said. “I did it against Atlanta in Vegas. It happened against Atlanta. I just tweaked it in the championship game to where it was like I’m going to miss; depending on when our next one is and how I feel I’m going to miss that one and the one after that. But we got on that.
“We had been on top of that right away, so even when I tried to get back on the court it was like a little bit tight because I hadn’t been moving, but it was alright. I didn’t have no issues.”
Lillard missed three previous games with a concussion from Nov. 12-16.
More:Bobby Portis starts campaign to get AJ Green into three-point contest
Bucks injury report
- AJ Johnson, out (non-COVID illness)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, out (non-COVID illness)
- Damian Lillard, questionable (non-COVID illness)
- Andre Jackson Jr., probable (right ankle sprain)
- Khris Middleton, probable (offseason surgery on both ankles)
Bucks starters
- Guards: Damian Lillard, Andre Jackson Jr.
- Forwards: Bobby Portis Jr., Khris Middleton
- Center: Brook Lopez
Bucks vs. Bulls odds, over/under
Milwaukee is a 3.5-point favorite over Chicago and the over/under for the game is 230.5 points per BetMGM.
What channel are the Bucks on?
The game will be broadcast locally on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin with Lisa Byington, Steve Novak and Melanie Ricks on the call.
It has been reported that Damian Lillard will try to play in the upcoming game, but the big question mark remains on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s status. With Lillard’s determination to get back on the court, fans are eagerly awaiting an update on the Milwaukee Bucks star player. Stay tuned for more updates on Giannis’ status and whether he will be able to suit up for the next game.
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- Damian Lillard
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Injury updates
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- Milwaukee Bucks
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