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Former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has continued to fight to keep the Milwaukee Bucks atop the Eastern Conference. During that time, though, he has had to battle through both injuries and a non-covid-related illness. After missing the Milwaukee Bucks' last two games, fans have held out hope that Antetokounmpo will return this weekend.
According to Anthony Slater, Antetokounmpo will sit out tonight against Golden State Warriors.
Although Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the showdown with the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, March 7, due to illness, he was most recently listed out with a hand injury. Initial reports were that he was likely to play against the Magic despite knee soreness, however, he was ruled out with an illness on game day.
He was then ruled out for Thursday's showdown with the Brooklyn Nets as a result of a hand injury. The hand injury is the same one that Antetokounmpo has been dealing with since February 16, when he went down against the Chicago Bulls.
Despite being an All-Star captain, Antetokounmpo played just 20 seconds, scoring the first bucket for his team before checking himself out.
Below you can see footage of Antetokounmpo suffering the hand injury against the Bulls.
What Giannis Antetokounmpo's status means for the Milwaukee Bucks
Despite Giannis Antetokounmpo struggling to play consistently over the course of the past week, the Milwaukee Bucks have still held onto the top spot in the East. The team currently sits two and a half games ahead of the Boston Celtics, maintaining their control over the conference.
The Bucks lost last Saturday's meeting with the Philadelphia 76ers 133-130 despite Antetokounmpo playing. The loss snapped a 16-game win streak that started back in January.
Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded a double-double with 34 points and 13 rebounds. James Harden led the 76ers with 38 points, nine rebounds, and ten assists.
Joel Embiid was on triple-double watch with 31 points, six rebounds and ten assists while Tyrese Maxey added 26 points himself. Although the Bucks have found success even without Antetokounmpo on the court, they will need the Greek star if they hope to make a playoff run.
Antetokounmpo is having arguably his best season yet. In 52 games, he has averaged a career-high 31.2 points per game, while also averaging 11.9 rebounds per game. Despite his impressive play, it seems as though Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic is going to take home the MVP award.
While Jokic's MVP campaign has created plenty of controversy on its own, if Giannis is able to keep the Bucks atop the East, he has a strong case for himself. With the season winding down, it will be interesting to see how things play out.
Guess the Lakers players!
