The Milwaukee Bucks finally have Giannis Antetokounmpo back in the lineup, but the celebration was short-lived. Just before tip-off against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night, the team announced that guard Kevin Porter Jr. would miss the contest due to significant swelling in his right knee.
The game at Fiserv Forum is currently hotly contested, with Milwaukee holding a slim 71-66 lead at halftime, with the focus primarily on the long-term health of their young guard. Head coach Doc Rivers Axe, previously via Eric Nehm on Twitter, did not seem particularly optimistic when discussing the injury during his pre-game availability. Rivers noted that the knee has been a problem for about two weeks, but the recent incident was serious enough to raise alarm bells on a large scale.
Asked about a possible lengthy absence, Rivers said, "We're hoping not." "They're going to do more things tomorrow to check, but it's a lot of swelling and then you have the concern. It's been really bothering him for the last few weeks, but it just hasn't progressed the way it has, so there's some concern there."
The Bucks are trying their best to stabilize their season and stay in the Eastern Conference play-in race. Getting Antetokounmpo back on the floor is a big boost, but losing Porter Jr., who has been a reliable secondary playmaker averaging 17.5 points and 7.4 assists this season, is a brutal blow. Ryan Rollins has stepped into a bigger role tonight to make up for the loss as the Bucks look to stop a Jalen Johnson-led Atlanta team.
Milwaukee will likely provide a more definitive update after further testing on Thursday. For now, the Bucks are holding their breath regarding their backcourt rotation as they struggle to get a much-needed home win.
