<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/milwaukee-bucks/bucks-news-giannis-antetokounmpo-bonkers-stat-line-vs-76ers-not-seen-nba-history');   ga('set', 'title', 'Giannis Antetokounmpo’s bonkers stat line in Bucks-76ers not seen before in NBA history');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Giannis-Antetokounmpo-controls-the-ball-against-the-Philadelphia-76ers.jpg"><figcaption>Kyle Ross-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Giannis Antetokounmpo’s bonkers stat line in Bucks-76ers not seen before in NBA history</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-03T19:34:07-07:00">April 3rd, 7:34pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-03T19:36:59-07:00">April 3rd, 7:36pm</time><address><a>Richard Pereira</a>Richard Pereira joined ClutchPoints in January 2025 as an Associate Editor. He earned his degree from Florida Atlantic University in 2023 and has been covering the school's athletic programs since 2020, having served as a Sports Editor at the FAU University Press. He was granted the unique opportunity to report on the men's basketball team's journey to the Final Four in Houston for FAU Owls Nest during March Madness, consistently striving to grow as a sports journalist.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Milwaukee Bucks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a performance for the ages in the Milwaukee <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/bucks-vs-76ers-prediction-odds-pick-spread-4-3-2025">Bucks’ game against the Philadelphia 76ers</a> on Thursday night.</p><p>In 39 minutes of action, Antetokounmpo put up a stat line of 35 points, 20 assists, 17 rebounds, and two steals. He shot 12-of-19 from the field, including 1-of-1 from three, and 10-of-11 from the free-throw line. It <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1907966996236386419" rel="noopener">marks the first time</a> he achieved 30 or more points, 15 or more rebounds, and 15 or more assists in a game throughout his career.</p><p>His performance was too much for the 76ers to handle, as the Bucks coasted to a 126-113 victory. Not only that, but he made NBA history as the <a href="https://x.com/statmuse/status/1907966887792660776" rel="noopener">first player to record those numbers</a> in a game, per StatMuse.</p><h2><b>What’s next for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Giannis-Antetokounmpo_124bca.jpg"><figcaption>Kyle Ross-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>With star teammate Damian Lillard out with a blood clot, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/bucks-news-why-giannis-antetokounmpo-views-himself-maverick-nba">Giannis Antetokounmpo has embraced more responsibility</a> for the Bucks.</p><p>Prior to Thursday’s game, Antetokounmpo has dominated the stat sheet. In the last five games he played in since Lillard’s absence, he is averaging 30.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and a steal per contest. After the win over the 76ers, he extended his 30-point streak to six consecutive games.</p><p>Milwaukee couldn’t miss from downtown against Philadelphia, converting 52% of their 3-point attempts. They prevailed despite initially trailing 39-25 after the first quarter, showing off their resilience against adversity.</p><p>Aside from Antetokounmpo, six other players scored in double-digits for the Bucks. Brook Lopez had 17 points and three rebounds, Kyle Kuzma put up 16 points and four rebounds, while Taurean Prince and Gary Trent Jr. provided 13 points each.</p><p>Milwaukee improved to a 42-34 record on the season, moving up to fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. They are three games behind the Indiana Pacers and six games behind the New York Knicks. They also close in on securing an automatic playoff spot, needing one more win or a loss from the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks to achieve it.</p><p>Following Thursday’s win over the 76ers, the Bucks will prepare for their next road matchup. They face the Miami Heat on April 5 at 8 p.m. ET.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s bonkers stat line in Bucks-76ers not seen before in NBA history

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/milwaukee-bucks/bucks-news-damian-lillard-phenomenal-injury-update-before-nba-playoffs');   ga('set', 'title', 'Bucks’ Damian Lillard gets ‘phenomenal’ injury update before NBA Playoffs');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Milwaukee-Bucks-guard-Damian-Lillard.jpg"><figcaption>Benny Sieu-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Bucks’ Damian Lillard gets ‘phenomenal’ injury update before NBA Playoffs</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-03T19:02:59-07:00">April 3rd, 7:02pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-03T19:02:59-07:00">April 3rd, 7:02pm</time><address><a>Richard Pereira</a>Richard Pereira joined ClutchPoints in January 2025 as an Associate Editor. He earned his degree from Florida Atlantic University in 2023 and has been covering the school's athletic programs since 2020, having served as a Sports Editor at the FAU University Press. He was granted the unique opportunity to report on the men's basketball team's journey to the Final Four in Houston for FAU Owls Nest during March Madness, consistently striving to grow as a sports journalist.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Milwaukee Bucks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Milwaukee Bucks had a positive <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/bucks-news-damian-lillard-hopeful-cleared-blood-clot-before-playoffs">injury update on star guard Damian Lillard</a>.</p><p>Ahead of the Bucks’ game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night, head coach Doc Rivers discussed the ongoing status of Lillard. The star guard has been absent from the court since March 18, recovering from a blood clot. He was averaging 24.9 points, 7.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game prior to joining the sidelines.</p><p>However, Rivers <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1907961677133283642" rel="noopener">had a positive statement</a> on how Lillard is doing so far.</p><p>“He had a great report the other day… the numbers are phenomenal. … We have much more hope today than we did three days ago,” Rivers said.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">“He had a great report the other day… the numbers are phenomenal. … We have much more hope today than we did three days ago.”</p><p>Doc Rivers provided an update on Damian Lillard 🙏</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/Bucks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Bucks</a>)<a href="https://t.co/A9PTkCl8cX">pic.twitter.com/A9PTkCl8cX</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1907961677133283642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>How Damian Lillard’s Bucks played against 76ers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Philadelphia-76ers-forward-Guerschon-Yabusele-28-drives-against-Milwaukee-Bucks-forward-Giannis-Antetokounmpo-34.jpg"><figcaption>Kyle Ross-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>It marks a positive turn for Damian Lillard as he progresses in his recovery from the blood clot situation. Having him back for the playoffs would be beneficial for the Bucks in making a deep run.</p><p>In the meantime, the Bucks took care of business by beating the 76ers 126-113. Trailing 39-25 after the first quarter, Milwaukee responded with a 36-point outing in the second quarter. Philadelphia was unable to fight back as the visitors took the momentum and did not look back.</p><p>Seven players scored in double-digits for the Bucks, including a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/bucks-news-why-giannis-antetokounmpo-views-himself-maverick-nba">dominant performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo</a>. He finished with 35 points, 20 assists and 17 rebounds on 12-of-19 shooting from the field. Brook Lopez came next with 17 points and three rebounds while Kyle Kuzma provided 16 points, four rebounds and three assists.</p><p>Milwaukee improved to a 42-34 record on the season, moving up to the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They are three games behind the Indiana Pacers and six games behind the New York Knicks.</p><p>Following Thursday’s win over the 76ers, the Bucks will prepare for their next matchup, being on the road. They face the Miami Heat on April 5 at 8 p.m. ET.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bucks’ Damian Lillard gets ‘phenomenal’ injury update before NBA Playoffs

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/milwaukee-bucks/bucks-news-why-doc-rivers-isnt-coaching-sidelines-vs-76ers');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why Bucks’ Doc Rivers isn’t coaching on sidelines vs. 76ers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Milwaukee-Bucks-head-coach-Doc-Rivers.jpg"><figcaption>Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Why Bucks’ Doc Rivers isn’t coaching on sidelines vs. 76ers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-03T17:25:21-07:00">April 3rd, 5:25pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-03T18:09:07-07:00">April 3rd, 6:09pm</time><address><a>Richard Pereira</a>Richard Pereira joined ClutchPoints in January 2025 as an Associate Editor. He earned his degree from Florida Atlantic University in 2023 and has been covering the school's athletic programs since 2020, having served as a Sports Editor at the FAU University Press. He was granted the unique opportunity to report on the men's basketball team's journey to the Final Four in Houston for FAU Owls Nest during March Madness, consistently striving to grow as a sports journalist.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Milwaukee Bucks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Doc Rivers wasn’t on the sidelines for the Milwaukee <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/bucks-vs-76ers-prediction-odds-pick-spread-4-3-2025">Bucks’ game against the Philadelphia 76ers</a> on Thursday night.</p><p>Rivers has usually been present on the sidelines for the Bucks this season. However, the team revealed that he is under the weather, per ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. Instead, he <a href="https://x.com/TimBontemps/status/1907944336907706573" rel="noopener">watched his team from the locker room</a> as assistant coach Darvin Ham leads the unit.</p><p>“The Bucks say Doc Rivers isn’t feeling well, and is watching the game back in the locker room,” Bontemps wrote.</p><p>“Lead assistant Darvin Ham is coaching the team in his absence.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Darvin Ham has taken over as acting head coach for Doc Rivers, who went back to the Bucks locker room because he is not feeling well, per the team. <a href="https://t.co/pxCpRPuj2E">pic.twitter.com/pxCpRPuj2E</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1907948190567112835?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>What’s next for Doc Rivers, Bucks</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Milwaukee-Bucks-forward-Giannis-Antetokounmpo.jpg"><figcaption>Kyle Ross-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>It will be a unique situation for the Bucks to have with Doc Rivers not being present on the sidelines. However, they maintain experience with Darvin Ham having managed head coaching duties during his stint with the Los Angeles Lakers.</p><p>In the meantime, the Bucks look to secure an automatic playoff spot by the end of the season. They are limited in offense with star guard <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/bucks-news-damian-lillard-hopeful-cleared-blood-clot-before-playoffs">Damian Lillard out indefinitely due to a blood clot</a>. However, star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and center Brook Lopez among others have helped keep the team afloat in this time.</p><p>Milwaukee has a 41-34 record on the season, holding the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They are 0.5 games behind the Detroit Pistons and 3.5 games behind the Indiana Pacers.</p><p>Following Thursday’s game against the 76ers, the Bucks will prepare for their next matchup being on the road. They face the Miami Heat on April 5 at 8:30 p.m. ET.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Why Bucks’ Doc Rivers isn’t coaching on sidelines vs. 76ers

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/milwaukee-bucks/bucks-news-damian-lillard-hopeful-cleared-blood-clot-before-playoffs');   ga('set', 'title', 'Bucks’ Damian Lillard ‘hopeful’ to be cleared from blood clot before playoffs');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Damian-Lillard-hopeful-to-be-cleared-from-blood-clot-before-playoffs.jpg"></figure><h1>Bucks’ Damian Lillard ‘hopeful’ to be cleared from blood clot before playoffs</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-02T14:31:16-07:00">April 2nd, 2:31pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-02T15:38:54-07:00">April 2nd, 3:38pm</time><address><a>Benedetto Vitale</a>Benedetto Vitale is an avid sports writer who is an expert at covering the NFL, college football, NBA, and UFC. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 2016 with a film degree but has since dedicated his career to sports writing.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Milwaukee Bucks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Milwaukee Bucks point guard <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/bucks-news-damian-lillard-out-indefinite-period-blood-clot">Damian Lillard was diagnosed with a blood clot</a> in his right calf in late March. Since then, he’s been sidelined to deal with the scary situation with no real timetable to return. However, it sounds like Lillard and the franchise are optimistic that he could be cleared to play before the playoffs.</p><p>During a guest appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Shams Charania of ESPN claims that doctors <a href="https://x.com/ESPNMilwaukee/status/1907482791769436497" rel="noopener">are liking what they’re seeing</a> from Damian Lillard’s blood clot. So much so, that he and the Bucks are “hopeful” to return soon.</p><p>“[Damian Lillard] is having doctor appointments every single week to gauge how that blood clot looks in that calf. My understanding is, doctors are encouraged by where it’s at. They see that that blood clot is actually lowering. It’s decreasing; it’s diminishing.</p><p>“He’s doing some light workouts right now. He’s hopeful to get cleared here in the next week, week and a half to go full contact and then resume basketball and play in games for the Milwaukee Bucks.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Is Dame coming back to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bucks</a> quicker than we think?? 👀</p><p>🎙️<a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShamsCharania</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/PatMcAfeeShow?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PatMcAfeeShow</a> <a href="https://t.co/ObVIi4J57b">pic.twitter.com/ObVIi4J57b</a></p><p>— ESPN Milwaukee (@ESPNMilwaukee) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNMilwaukee/status/1907482791769436497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The Bucks have just seven games remaining on the regular-season schedule. Based on Charania’s timeline, Damian Lillard could return to action by the final game of the season when Milwaukee plays the Detroit Pistons on April 13.</p><p>However, it’s more likely the 34-year-old point guard won’t step back onto the court until the playoffs, assuming his blood clot does go away completely. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/damian-lillard-blood-clot-issue-wrench-giannis-bucks-future">The Bucks hold the No. 6 seed</a> in the Eastern Conference and have a five-game lead over the seventh-place Orlando Magic. Milwaukee has a strong chance to make the postseason and avoid the play-in tournament altogether.</p><p>If that’s the case, then the franchise will want to give Damian Lillard all of the time he needs to get ready for the playoffs. Although all parties involved are optimistic, prioritizing the eight-time All-Star is what the club will likely do.</p><p>Lillard has been solid throughout his entire career, and that’s been the case since he was traded from the Portland Trail Blazers to the Bucks in 2023. This season, Damian Lillard has played in 58 contests, averaging 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game while shooting 44.8% from the field and 37.6% from beyond the arc.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bucks’ Damian Lillard ‘hopeful’ to be cleared from blood clot before playoffs

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-offseason-giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-proposal-with-bucks-future-unclear');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nets offseason Giannis Antetokounmpo trade proposal with Bucks’ future unclear');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Nets-offseason-Giannis-Antetokounmpo-trade-proposal-with-Bucks-future-unclear.jpg"></figure><h1>Nets offseason Giannis Antetokounmpo trade proposal with Bucks’ future unclear</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-01T13:20:50-07:00">April 1st, 1:20pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-01T13:20:50-07:00">April 1st, 1:20pm</time><address><a>Bailey Bassett</a>Bailey Bassett is a sports writer from Denver, Colorado, covering major sports events and athlete backgrounds at ClutchPoints. He has experience covering and writing on high school, collegiate, and professional sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Giannis Antetokounmpo, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-top-100-player-rankings-2024-25-season">one of the best players in the NBA</a>, has long been rumored as a player who could one day <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/bucks-news-giannis-antetokounmpo-comment-potential-trade-request">request a trade out of the Milwaukee Bucks</a> organization. That day has yet to come, but it may be more likely than ever this upcoming offseason. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/nba-ranking-best-duos-after-damian-lillard-trade-to-bucks">Antetokounmpo’s pairing with Damian Lillard</a> hasn’t been as impressive as expected, and now the star point guard is dealing with a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/victor-wembanyama-chris-bosh-history-blood-clots-nba-players">blood clotting issue</a> that clouds his future.</p><p>The Bucks have lost in the first round of the playoffs in each of the previous two seasons. Another postseason disappointment could force the Greek Freak to finally jump ship. If that happens, then the Brooklyn Nets <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/03/31/sports/how-nets-are-planning-to-use-flexibility-to-acquire-needed-stars/" rel="noopener">have signaled</a> that a<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nba-rumors-nets-plan-remains-giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-bucks"> trade for Antetokounmpo is their 1A plan</a>. The Nets have tons of cap space and tradable assets, so what could an Antetokounmpo to Brooklyn trade look like?</p><h2><b>Nets trade proposal for Giannis Antetokounmpo</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Giannis-Antetokounmpo.jpg"><figcaption>Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p><b>Nets receive:</b> Giannis Antetokounmpo, AJ Green</p><p><b>Bucks receive:</b> Nic Claxton, Cam Johnson, four first-round picks</p><p>It is unclear whether or not Antetokounmpo will ever request a trade out of Milwaukee. So far, he has been nothing but loyal to the Bucks. There have always been hints that the nine-time All-Star would be interested in a trade, though, and the Bucks have been unable to put a championship-caliber roster around the former two-time MVP since he led them to NBA Finals glory in 2021.</p><p>If Antetokounmpo wants a new home, he’d certainly want to go to a contender. However, the Bucks are going to want a massive trade return, and the Nets could offer a bigger haul than almost any team in the league. The team<a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/2025/4/1/24398543/lewis-giannis-antetokounmpo-is-still-plan-a-for-the-brooklyn-nets" rel="noopener"> has 13</a> tradable first-round picks. It would likely take at least four of those to land Antetokounmpo.</p><p>The team is stocked with draft capital because of their blockbuster trades during the 2024 offseason. The team <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-nets-mikal-bridges-expaned-unqiue-sign-and-trade">received a massive package of picks for Mikal Bridges</a>, and they also made a<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-stunning-mikal-bridges-nets-rockets-trade"> trade with the Houston Rockets</a> for a ton of draft capital. Four firsts might seem like a lot, especially considering Nic Claxton and Cam Johnson are involved in this trade as well, but the Nets actually got five first-rounders and a swap option in their trade with the New York Knicks. Antetokounmpo is clearly better and more valuable than Bridges.</p><p>Claxton and Johnson’s departures would leave the Nets with almost no depth. They’d have plenty of cap space to build a team around Antetokounmpo, though. The addition of AJ Green in the deal helps because he provides spacing and shooting around the star, who is best in the painted area.</p><p>The Nets would need to continue to use the trade market and free agency to build out the rest of their roster, but Antetokounmpo is one of the best starting points that they could ask for.</p><h2><b>Future of the Bucks</b></h2><p>The Bucks want to avoid trading away Antetokounmpo at all costs. The league is gearing up for a trade request from the star forward, though, especially because of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/bucks-news-damian-lillard-out-indefinite-period-blood-clot">Lillard’s late-season health scares</a>. Luckily, he would be one of the most coveted trade targets ever, so the Bucks would have plenty of buyers to choose from if a trade request was made.</p><p>In this trade proposal, the Bucks would land Claxton, Johnson, and four first-round picks. Neither Claxton nor Johnson have hit the age of 30 yet. Claxton is an incredible lob threat and one of the best rim protectors in the NBA. Johnson is a marksman from deep who has been coveted as a trade target for years.</p><p>This trade would put the Bucks into a full-blown rebuild. The team is currently pick-deprived, so the addition of draft capital is needed. They’d also likely move on from Lillard in another trade if Antetokounmpo were to be on the move. This trade would signal the end of an era, but it would certainly usher in a promising future.</p><p>There is a good chance that this trade will never come to pass. The Bucks could go on a deep playoff run in the weaker Eastern Conference, and the Nets might be hesitant to include players such as Claxton and Johnson in a deal because of how thin the roster would become. Antetokounmpo likely would want to be traded to a better team, too. The NBA is weird these days, though, and star player trades have become the norm. Nobody has forgotten about the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/dallas-mavericks/mavericks-trade-grade-luka-doncic-anthony-davis-blockbuster">Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis trade</a>. But if it were to come to pass, an Antetokounmpo trade would automatically become one of the<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/the-most-shocking-nba-trades-ever-ranked"> biggest deals in the history of the NBA.</a></p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nets offseason Giannis Antetokounmpo trade proposal with Bucks’ future unclear

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/phoenix-suns/is-bradley-beal-playing-tonight-suns-vs-bucks-injury-report');   ga('set', 'title', 'Is Bradley Beal playing tonight? Suns vs. Bucks injury report');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Is-Bradley-Beal-playing-tonight-Suns-vs.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Is Bradley Beal playing tonight? Suns vs. Bucks injury report</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-01T12:20:22-07:00">April 1st, 12:20pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-01T12:20:22-07:00">April 1st, 12:20pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Milwaukee Bucks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Phoenix Suns (35-40) begin a pivotal three-game road trip Tuesday night against the Milwaukee Bucks (40-34) with guard Bradley Beal <a href="https://official.nba.com/nba-injury-report-2024-25-season/" rel="noopener">listed</a> as questionable due to a left hamstring strain. Tip-off at Fiserv Forum is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.</p><p>Beal has not played since March 16, when he was limited to just 15 minutes in a 107-96 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. He recorded four points and two rebounds before exiting early and has missed the team’s last six games. The Suns are expected to evaluate Beal’s availability closer to game time.</p><p><i><b>*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV <a href="https://www.fubo.tv/lp/nba/?irad=356361&amp;irmp=492408" rel="noopener sponsored">(Get Access | Save $30)</a>*</b></i></p><h2><b>Bradley Beal’s injury status uncertain as Suns look to end skid withoutKevin Durant</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Bradley-Beal-3-against-the-Sacramento-Kings-at-Footprint-Center.jpg"><figcaption>© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Now in his second season with Phoenix, Beal has appeared in 48 games and is averaging 17.3 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting 50.5% from the field and 39.5% from beyond the arc. Injuries have continued to affect his availability throughout the season, but he remains a key piece of the Suns’ offensive core alongside Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.</p><p>Phoenix enters Tuesday’s matchup on a three-game skid and sits just outside the Western Conference Play-In Tournament in 11th place. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-phoenix-sets-embarrassing-nba-record-blowout-loss-rockets">Suns trail the 10th-seeded Sacramento Kings (36-39)</a> by one game, with seven contests remaining in the regular season. Sacramento has lost two straight, giving Phoenix an opportunity to close the gap.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-kevin-durant-out-one-week-ankle-injury">Suns will be without Durant, who sustained a left ankle sprain</a> in Sunday’s<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-stephen-a-smith-bashes-again-blowout-loss-rockets"> 148-109 loss to the Houston Rockets</a>. He exited in the second quarter and did not return. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday that Durant will be sidelined for at least one week as the regular season winds down.</p><h2><b>Bucks list Giannis Antetokounmpo as probable amid growing injury report</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Giannis-Antetokounmpo-34-shoots-during-the-second-quarter-against-the-Atlanta-Hawks.jpg"><figcaption>© Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Milwaukee has listed forward Giannis Antetokounmpo as probable with a left foot sprain. The two-time MVP is coming off a 31-point, nine-rebound, five-assist performance in a 145-124 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. He shot 11-for-18 from the field and added a steal in the defeat.</p><p>Guard A.J. Green is listed as questionable with a right AC joint sprain. Green last played on March 29 in a loss to the New York Knicks, contributing eight points and two rebounds off the bench.</p><p>The Bucks remain without forward Jericho Sims, who is set to miss his eighth consecutive game due to a right thumb UCL sprain. Additionally, the team announced last week that star guard <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/bucks-news-damian-lillard-releases-statement-blood-clot-diagnosis">Damian Lillard has been ruled out for the remainder of the season</a> after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right calf.</p><p>Milwaukee has lost four straight and is currently battling for position in the Eastern Conference standings with eight games remaining. The Bucks will look to halt their slide while managing a depleted roster.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Is Bradley Beal playing tonight? Suns vs. Bucks injury report

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/milwaukee-bucks/bucks-news-why-giannis-antetokounmpo-views-himself-maverick-nba');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo views himself as ‘maverick’ of NBA');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Why-Giannis-Antetokounmpo-views-himself-as-maverick-of-NBA.jpg"></figure><h1>Why Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo views himself as ‘maverick’ of NBA</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-01T12:18:04-07:00">April 1st, 12:18pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-01T12:18:33-07:00">April 1st, 12:18pm</time><address><a>Preston Byers</a>Preston Byers is an experienced writer and journalist who currently serves as an associate editor for ClutchPoints and as a staff writer at The Vindicator and Tribune Chronicle, where he covers sports in the Mahoning Valley. Previously, Preston worked as an associate editor for Dot Esports and a site expert for FanSided's Union and Blue.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Milwaukee Bucks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is unlike most NBA players, and he knows it.</p><p>In a league that is trending more and more toward 3-point shooting, Antetokounmpo stands out as a player whose proverbial bread is buttered in the paint. For that reason, the former two-time NBA MVP<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6019886/2025/04/01/nba-media-negativity-charles-barkley-shaq/" rel="noopener"> believes he is a</a> maverick.</p><p>“Obviously, I’m kind of like the maverick of this league,” Antetokounmpo told The Athletic’s David Aldridge. “My son’s name is Maverick. So, yeah, the way the league is played right now, it’s totally different from the way I play. A lot of 3s, a lot of early shots, early in the shot clock, fast offense, free flow, five-out offense. And it’s totally different now. Would I like to play the game the way the game was played when I got in the league, when it was like, a little bit more, the pace was slower?”</p><p>When Antetokounmpo arrived in the NBA in 2013, it was common for teams to play inside-out, prioritizing post play of traditional centers.</p><p>“We tried to put the ball in the post,” Antetokounmpo said. “We had Greg Monroe; we tried to feed him the ball in the post. There was Al Jefferson in Charlotte, you had to get the ball in the post. You had Zaza Pachulia, and you just tried to play off of them.”</p><p>As a young player in the league, Antetokounmpo was part of a new breed of players who, despite being nearly 7 feet tall, could handle the ball and shoot from outside. During his rookie season, Antetokounmpo shot nearly 35% from 3-point range, which is still the highest mark of his career.</p><p>Over the years, though, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/evolution-of-giannis-antetokounmpo-through-photos-greek-freak-transformation">Antetokounmpo has become bigger and stronger</a>, and his perimeter shooting has regressed, which has, in turn, made him one of the most aggressive and reliable inside scorers in the league. This season, Antetokounmpo has more dunks (223) than any other player in the NBA. Additionally, more than 70% of his 1,207 field goal attempts have come within 10 feet of the rim despite a stark increase in quantity and efficiency from mid-range.</p><p>The Bucks finish up a three-game homestand tonight <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/betting/suns-vs-bucks-prediction-odds-pick-spread-4-1-2025">when they host the Phoenix Suns</a>.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Why Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo views himself as ‘maverick’ of NBA

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/brooklyn-nets/nba-rumors-nets-plan-remains-giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-bucks');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Nets’ ‘Plan A’ remains Giannis Antetokounmpo trade with Bucks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Nets-Plan-A-remains-Giannis-Antetokounmpo-trade-with-Bucks.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Nets’ ‘Plan A’ remains Giannis Antetokounmpo trade with Bucks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-01T11:02:47-07:00">April 1st, 11:02am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-01T13:24:58-07:00">April 1st, 1:24pm</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>There is no shortage of paths available to the Brooklyn Nets as they navigate their rebuild. With 13 tradable first-round picks — including their own this year and next — and over $50 million in cap space, they can build through the draft or expedite their timeline with a star acquisition. They reportedly prefer the latter, with one player in mind: Giannis Antetokounmpo.</p><p>Multiple league personnel say a trade for the Milwaukee Bucks superstar <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/03/31/sports/how-nets-are-planning-to-use-flexibility-to-acquire-needed-stars/" rel="noopener">has been and remains Plan A</a> for the Nets, according to the New York Post’s Brian Lewis.</p><p>Antetokounmpo’s future has been a main NBA storyline amid the Bucks’ struggles since winning the 2021 championship. A 2022 second-round loss has followed first-round exits in the last two seasons. They appear destined for a similar fate this year with Damian Lillard sidelined indefinitely amid a 4-9 stretch over their last 13 games.</p><p>With an aging core surrounding Antetokounmpo, the Bucks have few avenues to improve. They have no cap space or intriguing young prospects and only one tradable first-round pick (2031). The soon-to-be 35-year-old Lillard is owed $113 million over the next two seasons, and their supporting cast — headlined by Brook Lopez, Kyle Kuzma, and Bobby Portis — is far from championship-caliber.</p><p>Antetokounmpo is still playing at an MVP level during his age-30 season, averaging 30.2 points, 11.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.2 blocks on 60.1 percent shooting. He has <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x6zCD7NpeQ&amp;t=1411s&amp;pp=ygUYZ2lhbm5pcyBibGVhdiA0OCBtaW51dGVz" rel="noopener">said numerous times</a> that competing for a title is his No. 1 priority, and he will do so elsewhere if he needs to.</p><p>“I’m a Milwaukee Buck. But most importantly, I’m a winner. I want to win. And I have to do whatever it takes for me to win. And if there’s a better situation for me to win the Larry O’Brien, I have to take that better situation,” the two-time MVP said before the 2023-24 season.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I'm a Milwaukee Buck, but most importantly I'm a winner. … If there is a better situation for me to win the Larry O'Brien I have to take that better situation."</p><p>Giannis on his future with the Bucks. <a href="https://t.co/XzucRXtmOv">pic.twitter.com/XzucRXtmOv</a></p><p>— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/1702047017432678461?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2023</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>With Milwaukee’s championship window appearing to be closed, the question has become: When will the two sides move on from each other? And should the Nets cash in their chips if Antetokounmpo has them on his list of preferred destinations?</p><h2>Should the Nets expedite their rebuild with Giannis Antetokounmpo trade?</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Giannis.jpg"><figcaption>Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/grading-blockbuster-mikal-bridges-trade-involving-nets-knicks-rockets">Nets’ moves this summer</a> appeared to signal a clear direction. After trading Mikal Bridges, general manager Sean Marks paid a steep price to reacquire his 2025 and 2026 first-round picks from the Houston Rockets, allowing his team to tank for a top pick in two stacked draft classes.</p><p>Brooklyn has done a far from optimal job executing that vision this season. The team is essentially locked into the sixth-best lottery odds following <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-news-drew-timme-outperforms-anthony-davis-fourth-quarter-comeback-win">Monday’s win over the Dallas Mavericks</a>. However, many scouts view the top of the 2026 class featuring Darryn Peterson, A.J. Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer as better than this year’s.</p><p>A Giannis Antetokounmpo trade this summer would end any chance of landing the above players and require the Nets to part with a significant chunk of their assets.</p><p>This Brooklyn regime has been down the veteran superstar path before. While the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/the-greatest-nets-era-that-never-was-a-timeline-of-kevin-durant-and-kyrie-irvings-downfall-in-brooklyn">failed Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving-James Harden big three era</a> struck fear into the team’s fanbase, its management appears undeterred. However, the situations are far from the same.</p><p>Unlike Durant and Irving, Antetokounmpo would not be coming with another star attached to him, as far as we know. The Nets’ current core consists of Cam Johnson, Cam Thomas and Nic Claxton. A trade for the Bucks star would likely require them to part with multiple of those players and a handful of first-round picks.</p><p>Brooklyn would have draft capital and cap space left over, plus Antetokounmpo and the New York market to pitch other stars on joining. Would that be enough to build a championship team within the constraints of the new CBA? How long will Antetokounmpo sustain his level of play to keep a title window open? And is that worth passing up an opportunity to draft the franchise’s first-ever homegrown superstar in 2026?</p><p>These are the questions the Nets’ ownership and front office will be mulling over this offseason. Their decision could determine the franchise’s future for the next decade.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Nets’ ‘Plan A’ remains Giannis Antetokounmpo trade with Bucks

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/milwaukee-bucks/bucks-10-greatest-players-in-franchise-history-ranked');   ga('set', 'title', '10 greatest Bucks in franchise history, ranked');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/10-greatest-Bucks-in-franchise-history-ranked.jpg"></figure><h1>10 greatest Bucks in franchise history, ranked</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-31T10:00:27-07:00">March 31st, 10:00am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-31T10:03:14-07:00">March 31st, 10:03am</time><address><a>James Salmon</a>James Salmon is a published author, sports writer and editor from Melbourne, Australia. 'Sport's Greatest Statistical Anomalies' is his book, and aside from being a BRILLIANT read, is testament to his love of all things sport, and in particular stats. A Nets fan, James yearns for the days of yesteryear, when playoffs were all but irrelevant and the likes of Caris Levert and Jarrett Allen were running the show.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>In the more than 50 years which have passed since the franchise came into existence, the Milwaukee Bucks have seen some pretty high-level talent walk through their doors.</p><p>Though they had an extended period with minimal success, their 55-year history was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/4-things-you-didnt-know-about-giannis-antetokounmpo-bucks-2021-nba-championship-ring" rel="noopener">book-ended by championships</a>, and it’s little surprise that some of the most notable of those talents played leading roles in those triumphs.</p><p>But while the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar stand out for their contributions to the Bucks’ achieving the ultimate success, there have been plenty of other great players to represent the franchise who haven’t been quite so lucky.</p><p>So how to separate the likes of Sidney Moncrief, who played virtually his whole career in Milwaukee but never made it out of the Eastern Conference, with someone like Abdul-Jabbar, who played a far smaller proportion of his career with the Bucks but who led them to the top of the mountain in that time?</p><p>It’s a task which will invariably invoke plenty of debate, so without further ado, here are the 10 greatest Bucks in history, ranked.</p><h2>10. Jrue Holiday</h2><p>It might seem premature to have Jrue Holiday in this list given he played just three seasons to date with the Bucks, but he crammed plenty of accolades into that short period of time. In his first season with the team, he played a key role in leading them to their first championship in 50 years.</p><p>That season he was also named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, a <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/2022-23-all-defensive-teams-announced" rel="noopener">feat he repeated</a> in 2022-23, while he made the NBA All-Defensive Second Team the season sandwiched in between. He was also an <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-all-star-game-2023-rosters-date-time-how-watch" rel="noopener">NBA All-Star in 2022-23</a> and was named NBA Teammate of the Year in two of his three seasons in Milwaukee. That’s a pretty hefty list of achievements in a short period of time and enough to earn him a place among the Top 10 Bucks in history.</p><h2>9. Ray Allen</h2><p>Ray Allen made his name as one of the sweetest jump shooters in the game’s history with a number of different teams, but it all started with the Milwaukee Bucks. After being drafted with the fifth pick in 1996, Allen wasted no time showing his wares for the Bucks, averaging 19.5 points per game in his first season.</p><p>Those numbers jumped up into the low 20s for much of his career with the Bucks, though more notable than his points per game was the efficiency with which he got them with a three-point percentage in excess of 42% in his third, fourth, and fifth seasons with the team.</p><p>Unfortunately, the furthest he got in his time there was a Conference Finals series in 2001, but with three All-Star appearances, an All-NBA Third Team appearance and a Three-Point Contest win to boot, it’s safe to say he made an indelible mark on the franchise.</p><h2>8. Terry Cummings</h2><p>Like Ray Allen, Terry Cummings never achieved the ultimate success with the Milwaukee Bucks, but he played a key role in their consistent presence in the playoffs during his time there, putting up some impressive individual numbers along the way.</p><p>In his six seasons with the Bucks, Cummings averaged 19.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, racking up a couple of All-NBA and All-Star appearances in that time. A power forward who was very comfortable with ball in hand, Cummings was a pivotal part of a strong era for the Bucks, cementing his place firmly in this list.</p><h2>7. Marques Johnson</h2><p>Marques Johnson certainly doesn’t receive the kind of recognition of some of the names ahead of him in this list, and while that’s understandable given the quality of those names, he is nonetheless right up there in the list of greatest Bucks players in history.</p><p>He put up strong numbers in his seven seasons in Milwaukee, averaging 21.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, and alongside Sidney Moncrief helped to lead the Bucks to consistent appearances in the playoffs and challenge for the Eastern Conference title on multiple occasions.</p><h2>6. Khris Middleton</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Khris-Middleton-celebrates-with-the-Larry-OBrien-Trophy.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Though he played second fiddle to Giannis Antetokounmpo for much of his career, Middleton was a driving force in the Bucks’ resurgence over recent years. A three-time NBA All-Star, Middleton has at times been a whipping boy for NBA analysts who feel he’s out of place among the other All-Stars, but such criticism is unwarranted.</p><p>He was a key member of the Bucks’ team for over a decade and transformed himself into a bonafide star in recent years with his ability to play multiple positions at both ends of the floor, which is vital to his team’s success. He averages 17.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists in his nearly 12 seasons with Milwaukee before the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/bucks-news-khris-middleton-wizards-kyle-kuzma-trade">Bucks traded Middleton to the Washington Wizards</a> in 2025.</p><h2>5. Bob Dandridge</h2><p>Bob Dandridge comes a little way down the list of names people remember from the Bucks’ 1970 championship team, but given that list includes Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, that’s not exactly a fault of his own.</p><p>In just his second season in the league, Dandridge averaged 18.4 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists that year, and by the end of his career had compiled nine seasons with the Bucks which bore similar numbers. With three All-Star appearances in his time with Milwaukee, he undoubtedly deserves his spot in the top five Milwaukee players of all time.</p><h2>4. Sidney Moncrief</h2><p>Sidney Moncrief is synonymous with the 1980s Bucks outfit, having led the charge as the team’s best player during much of that period and leading them on many deep playoff runs. Between 1982 and 1986 he made five consecutive NBA All-Star teams, while he also made the All-NBA First Team once and the All-NBA Second Team four times during that time period.</p><p>During that period he also made the All-NBA First Defensive Team four times and the Second Team once, and won the Defensive Player of the Year award on two occasions. That’s some record. One of the best players in the league for an extended period and with ten Bucks’ seasons under his belt, Moncrief will be hard to dislodge from this top four.</p><h2>3. Oscar Robertson</h2><p>Oscar Robertson had a great impact on the game of basketball. With an ability to terrorize oppositions in a multitude of ways which was unprecedented for someone of his size at the time, he established himself as one of the greats of the game with the Sacramento Kings before moving to the Bucks for the final four seasons of his career.</p><p>He was a shadow of the player he once was by that stage, and his numbers declined each year he was with the team, but it’s a testament to just how good he was that he was still such a pivotal player despite being well past his best. Milwaukee won the championship in his first year with them with his influence on that team surpassed only by the next man on this list.</p><h2>2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar</h2><p>Like Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is not best remembered for his time in a Bucks uniform, but that too is testament to how great his career with the Los Angeles Lakers was. Kareem played the first six seasons of his illustrious career in Milwaukee, leading them to their inaugural championship and averaging a casual 30.4 points, 15.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists.</p><p>He was Finals MVP that season, league MVP that season and two others with Milwaukee, an All-Star every season, four times named to the All-NBA First Team in his six seasons with the Bucks, and the list goes on. He is the greatest player to don the Milwaukee jersey, and it’s only the fact that he played the bulk of his career in Los Angeles that bumps him out of the top spot.</p><h2>1. Giannis Antetokounmpo</h2><p>There was a time when it looked like Giannis Antetokoumpo would seek greener pastures elsewhere, but fortunately for both he and the city of Milwaukee he stayed. That decision, of course, proved key in the fortunes of the franchise, as the man affectionately known as the Greek Freak went on to live up to his name en route to the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/bucks-news-lebron-james-kevin-durant-nba-stars-react-to-monster-giannis-antetokounmpo-game-in-title-win" rel="noopener">team’s first championship in 50 years</a>.</p><p>He was Finals MVP that year, adding to a trophy cabinet which already included two NBA MVPs and could very easily have included a third from that season. One of the most unique players in the game’s history, Giannis can do literally everything (except shoot…) on the floor, and has for years been averaging close to 30 points, double-figure rebounds and 5+ assists.</p><p>He is going about establishing himself as one of the game’s greats, and with his entire career likely to take place in Milwaukee, his spot atop this list is difficult to dispute, especially as he appears to be well on his way to finishing Top 5 in MVP voting for the seventh consecutive year.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

10 greatest Bucks in franchise history, ranked

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/milwaukee-bucks/bucks-news-giannis-antetokounmpo-responds-lebron-james-1970s-take');   ga('set', 'title', 'Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo responds to LeBron James’ 1970’s take');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Giannis-Antetokounmpo-responds-to-LeBron-James-1970s-take.jpg"></figure><h1>Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo responds to LeBron James’ 1970’s take</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-29T09:22:06-07:00">March 29th, 9:22am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-29T09:22:06-07:00">March 29th, 9:22am</time><address><a href="https://medium.com/bingeable">Sonny Giuliano</a>Sonny Giuliano is an experienced sports writer for ClutchPoints who has been covering the NFL, NCAA Football, NBA, and NCAA Basketball for well over a decade. Originally from the small town of Elba, New York, Sonny received his degree from Florida Gulf Coast University and currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Milwaukee Bucks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>LeBron James is no stranger to making a lightning-rod statements, and during a recent appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, he made plenty of them, ranging from <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/lakers-news-lebron-james-calls-out-stephen-a-smith-taylor-swift-tour-run-jab">Stephen A. Smith’s tighty whities</a>, his <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/lakers-news-lebron-james-reveals-why-he-doesnt-talk-michael-jordan">relationship with Michael Jordan</a>, Miami Heat President <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/heat-news-lebron-james-confirms-cookie-story-nsfw-rant-pat-riley-jimmy-butler">Pat Riley stealing his cookies</a>, or how Milwaukee Bucks superstar <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/lakers-news-lebron-james-believes-giannis-antetokounmpo-will-drop-250-points-in-the-70s">Giannis Antetokounmpo would fare playing in the 1970s</a>.</p><p>“You’re trying to tell me Giannis wouldn’t be able to play an NBA game in the ’70s?” LeBron pondered during his PMS appearance. “Giannis Antetokounmpo would have 250 points in a game in the ’70s — 250. That’s no disrespect, but seriously.”</p><p>Naturally, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-news-lebrons-250-point-giannis-take-intense-backlash-from-pundits">everyone took what LeBron said at face value</a>, as if 250 points wasn’t a tremendous exaggeration on his part. But of course, this turned into a media frenzy and prompted a response from Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was just minding his own business before being dragged into all of this.</p><p>After joking that the number would actually be closer to 275 points, not 250, Giannis made a very well-conceived and diplomatic case for why it’s so <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1906002665789632949" rel="noopener">difficult to compare different eras</a> of professional basketball.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">“It’s a wrong take… It would probably be more like 275, not 250. I’m joking. Great compliment. But I don’t like comparing eras. It’s not fair… The game evolves.”</p><p>Giannis Antetokounmpo on LeBron James’ comment on him scoring 250 points in the ’70s.<a href="https://t.co/vjX0ldFhFE">pic.twitter.com/vjX0ldFhFE</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1906002665789632949?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>“Great compliment, but I don’t like comparing eras. It’s not fair,” Giannis told reporters. “And you know, if I played in the 70’s, how everybody practiced and how everybody played, I would’ve played the same way. That’s all you knew at the time, and the game evolves.”</p><p>This is all fine and good, but we can’t ignore the fact that the league was smaller, skinnier, and played at a faster pace in 1975 (104.5 possessions per game) than in 2025 (98.9). Drop Giannis into the NBA at that point in time, and he’s instantly the best athlete on the floor in any game he plays in. At 6-foot-11, 243 pounds, he’s substantially larger than any big man in the era with the exception of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Bill Walton, including 1975 MVP Bob McAdoo, 1973 MVP Dave Cowens, or 1970 MVP Willis Reed.</p><p>Additionally, it’s not as if Giannis would be negatively impacted by the lack of a three-point line in the 1970’s. After a five year stretch under head coach Mike Budenholzer in which he averaged 3.5 three-point attempts per game, Giannis has now seemingly put an end to the experiment of trying to expand his range. He’s averaging only 0.8 attempt per game from long range this season, and as a result, his field goal percentage is back up over 60 percent for the second consecutive season. If anything, Giannis’ game is a throwback to the days when the sport was dominated by players who could score at will in the paint.</p><p>250 points is an obvious exaggeration, but count this writer as one who believes Giannis would’ve been just as dominant, if not even more dominant, if he were playing 50 years ago.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo responds to LeBron James’ 1970’s take

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/milwaukee-bucks/milwaukee-bucks-dream-nightmare-seeding-matchup-2025-nba-playoffs');   ga('set', 'title', 'Milwaukee Bucks dream, nightmare seeding, matchup scenarios for 2025 NBA Playoffs');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Milwaukee-Bucks-dream-nightmare-seeding-matchup-scenarios-for-2025-NBA-Playoffs.jpg"></figure><h1>Milwaukee Bucks dream, nightmare seeding, matchup scenarios for 2025 NBA Playoffs</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-29T07:10:21-07:00">March 29th, 7:10am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-29T07:10:21-07:00">March 29th, 7:10am</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/spencersee10" rel="facebook">Spencer See</a>Spencer See is a part-time writer at ClutchPoints focusing on the NBA, evergreen content and celebrity lifestyle. He is also a lifelong fan of LeBron James. In his free time, he either goes fishing or watches basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Milwaukee Bucks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Things aren’t looking great for the Milwaukee Bucks. After bucking in a slow start to the 2024-25 season, the team resurrected their championship hopes when they conquered the NBA Cup. But forward to today, a wrench was thrown into the Bucks’ plans of becoming the first team to win the NBA Cup and NBA Championship in the same season.</p><p>Just recently, it was announced that<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/damian-lillard-blood-clot-issue-wrench-giannis-bucks-future"> Damian Lillard is out indefinitely after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis</a>. This leaves Milwaukee without their secondary star for quite some time, leaving more pressure on Giannis Antetokounmpo to carry the load. Without the nine time NBA All-Star, the Bucks have suffered a three-game losing skid. They’ve dropped to the sixth seed, potentially endangering themselves to drop to the Play-In Tournament.</p><p>Nonetheless, the season must push through and it’s up to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/is-giannis-antetokounmpo-playing-tonight-bucks-knicks-injury-report">Giannis Antetokounmpo and crew to finish the campaign strong</a>. Let’s not forget, basketball is a 12-team sport and there have been some instances when teams found ways to win without their best players. With the playoffs just around the corner, Milwaukee must find a way to stop the bleeding and to finish the season strong in order to give themselves a chance at a decent postseason outing.</p><h2><b>Dream scenario: Bucks secure 5th seed and get Damian Lillard back</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Damian-Lillard.jpg"><figcaption>Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>There’s no definite timeline as to when Lillard will return to action. In fact, the Bucks’ medical staff even had their star taking blood thinners to address his condition. Nonetheless, with Lillard’s absence, the team certainly has a big hole in their offense. As a result, getting him in full health should be Milwaukee’s dream scenario.</p><p>Moreover, it would also be ideal if the Bucks can race to the fifth seed, a position they held earlier before the 42-32 Detroit Pistons caught up. While Detroit is building a solid gap against Milwaukee, it’s still possible to catch up. It’ll be an uphill climb, however, especially without the services of Lillard. Should the Bucks find a way to secure the fifth seed, the team finds itself in an ideal position to matchup against the Indiana Pacers.</p><p>Although the Pacers, led by Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, and Tyrese Haliburton will be a tough assignment, they’re still better to matchup against in the postseason compared to the likes of the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, or the Boston Celtics. In fact, the Bucks have dominated the Pacers in the regular season, winning three out of their four clashes.</p><p>Unfortunately, losing Lillard indefinitely makes this dream scenario nearly impossible, unless Giannis and crew can come up with a way to put up a herculean effort to mask their star’s absence. Furthermore, it also doesn’t help that the Pistons are having a great second half to the season, as they’re in the midst of a three game winning streak to extend their gap against the Bucks.</p><h2><b>Nightmare scenario: Milwaukee drops to Play-In Tournament</b></h2><p>Unlike the dream scenario, it looks like the nightmare scenario could more likely happen. For now, it’s safer to assume that Lillard won’t be returning to the team. Besides, his condition was the same one that forced the San Antonio Spurs to shut down reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama for the rest of the season.</p><p>In the midst of a free fall, Lillard’s diagnosis couldn’t have come at a worst time for the Bucks. Their three game losing streak could grow further, potentially opening the doors for the Atlanta Hawks to steal the final seat to the playoffs without going through the Play-In Tournament. Should Milwaukee drop to the Play-In, it’d be like dropping their playoff hopes into the tiger’s den.</p><p>Assuming the Bucks fall to the seventh or eighth seed, they’ll have to tangle with a dangerous Orlando Magic, a team that bolsters several young stars led by Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. Furthermore, they could also potentially clash against dark horses the Miami Heat or the Chicago Bulls. However, if they survive the Play-In, the coup de grace will be an early playoff clash against either the Boston Celtics or the Cleveland Cavaliers, two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.</p><p>Historically, the Bucks have had their hands full against these two Eastern Conference heavyweights. In fact, Milwaukee has been swept by both teams during the ongoing regular season, even when Lillard was still healthy. And without their secondary star, it looks like the outcome will further favor either Cleveland or Boston should they meet in the playoffs.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Milwaukee Bucks dream, nightmare seeding, matchup scenarios for 2025 NBA Playoffs

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/milwaukee-bucks/bucks-news-is-giannis-antetokounmpo-playing-tonight-vs-knicks-injury-report');   ga('set', 'title', 'Is Giannis Antetokounmpo playing tonight? Bucks vs. Knicks injury report');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Is-Giannis-Antetokounmpo-playing-tonight-Bucks-vs.-Knicks-injury-report.jpg"></figure><h1>Is Giannis Antetokounmpo playing tonight? Bucks vs. Knicks injury report</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-28T09:45:43-07:00">March 28th, 9:45am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-28T09:45:53-07:00">March 28th, 9:45am</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Milwaukee Bucks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Milwaukee Bucks (40-32) have received a decent amount of criticism for failing to make another deep run, and while they definitely should be held accountable, the franchise has also consistently endured misfortune at the most crucial point of the season. Injuries plague this group around or during the playoffs year after year, preventing fans from witnessing the entire squad take the floor.</p><p>The same will probably happen again in the 2025 postseason. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/is-giannis-antetokounmpo-playing-tonight-bucks-nuggets-injury-report">Damian Lillard is out indefinitely</a> with a blood clot in his calf, a medical issue that obviously takes precedence over basketball-related matters. Thankfully, he caught it early and is taking blood-thinning medication. The Bucks are supporting him and giving him the time he needs to get healthy. In the meanwhile, head coach Doc Rivers is also trying to devise effective game plans that can compensate for their key absences.</p><p>Keeping superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo on the floor is vital, now more than ever. The 2021 NBA Finals MVP missed the team’s 127-117 road loss to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/is-giannis-antetokounmpo-playing-tonight-bucks-nuggets-injury-report">a foot sprain</a>. He is once again on <a href="https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/referee/injury/Injury-Report_2025-03-28_11AM.pdf" rel="noopener">the injury report</a> ahead of Friday night’s home matchup versus the New York Knicks (45-27).</p><p>Playoff seeding implications could hold significant importance in the final 10 games of the season, and Milwaukee is trying to build chemistry and momentum without Lillard. Therefore, fans earnestly want to know if Antetokounmpo will be playing tonight against the Knicks.</p><p><i><b>*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV <a href="https://www.fubo.tv/lp/nba/?irad=356361&amp;irmp=492408" rel="noopener sponsored">(Get Access | Save $30)</a>*</b></i></p><h2><b>Injury status for Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo</b></h2><p>The six-time All-NBA First-Team selection is questionable with the left foot sprain, per the NBA’s injury report. Although the Bucks have lost two straight games and currently sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, the foremost priority is making sure Antetokounmpo does not carry lingering injuries with him into the postseason.</p><p>The franchise and fan base has seen that miserable scenario unfold before, and they are not equipped to handle it again. Milwaukee played valiantly in its loss versus the Nuggets and could trust its supporting cast to topple the Knickerbockers (shorthanded themselves) in the Fiserv Forum.</p><p>This is presently slated to be a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/how-damian-lillard-blood-clot-knicks-playoff-path">first-round playoff matchup</a> (Bucks narrowly trail the Detroit Pistons), which means Antetokounmpo could get several more cracks at New York if he does not suit up on Friday. While it might not matter to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-lebron-james-believes-giannis-antetokounmpo-will-drop-250-points-in-the-70s">the Greek Freak</a>, he is getting close to not qualifying for end-of-season awards. Due to the NBA’s 65-game requirement, Antetokounmpo must play at least six more games in order to earn another All-NBA nod.</p><p>The 30-year-old is averaging more than 30 points per contest for a third consecutive season while also recording 12.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.2 blocks. Bucks-Knicks tip-off at 8 p.m. ET. Stay tuned for more updates on Antetokounmpo’s status.</p><h2><b>Bucks injury report</b></h2><p>Giannis Antetokounmpo: Questionable- Injury/Illness- Left Foot; Sprain</p><p>Damian Lillard: Out- Injury/Illness- Right Calf; Deep Vein Thrombosis</p><p>Bobby Portis Jr.: Out- League Suspension</p><p>Jericho Sims: Out- Injury/Illness- Right Thumb; UCL Sprain</p><h2>Knicks injury report</h2><p>Jalen Brunson: Out- Injury/Illness- Right Ankle; Sprain</p><p>Pacome Dadiet: Questionable- G League- On Assignment</p><p>Ariel Hukporti: Out- Injury/Illness- Left Knee; Meniscus Surgery</p><p>Miles McBride: Out- Injury/Illness- Left Groin; Contusion/Strain</p><p>Kevin McCullar Jr.: Questionable- G League- Two-Way</p><p>Cameron Payne: Out- Injury/Illness- Right Ankle; Sprain</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

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