/https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/5f5551c0e5c9e463fa74b0ae/0x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=3224&cropY1=0&cropY2=1813&w=1200&resize=1200,675&ssl=1 "Giannis Antetokounmpo Ruled Out Of Game 4 Due To Ankle Spain")
TOPLINE
Giannis Antetokounmpo, the NBA’s reigning Most Valuable Player and the 2019-20 Defensive Player of the Year, has been ruled out of Sunday’s Game 4 after reinjuring his right ankle in the second quarter of the Milwaukee Bucks matchup with the Miami Heat.
Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks exits the game after an injury during the second … [+]
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KEY FACTS
Antetokounmpo was listed as questionable heading into Sunday after rolling his right ankle in the first half of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Friday.
However, after warming up in front of Milwaukee team doctors and coaching staff, Antetokounmpo was cleared to play.
The Bucks desperately needed their best player on Sunday, as they trailed Miami 0-3 in the best of seven series (no team in NBA history has even come back from a 0-3 hole).
Yet, Antetokounmpo re-sprained his right ankle while drawing a foul on a drive early in the second quarter of Game 4.
He screamed in pain once he landed and remained on the floor for a couple of minutes before being helped to the bench.
Antetokounmpo did attempt his free throws but then limped back to the locker room, unable to put weight on his right leg.
During halftime, the Bucks announced that he officially had been ruled out the remainder of the contest.
Key Background:
Should Milwaukee go on to lose Game 4 this afternoon, it would bring a once-promising season to an incredibly disappointing conclusion. The Bucks’ 56-17 (.767) regular-season record was the best in the NBA in 2019-20 and the third-best in franchise history. Milwaukee outscored its opponents by 10.1 points per game, tied for the 11th-highest net differential in NBA history. The Bucks entered the postseason as the heavy favorites to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals. However, after posting an incredible 52-8 record over their first 60 contests, Milwaukee never found its groove in the NBA’s bubble in Orlando, losing five of their final seven regular-season contests.
Big Number:
31.85: Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to take home his second consecutive MVP award later this month after posting a Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 31.85 in 2019-20, the highest PER ever recorded in a single season.
Further Reading:
Giannis Antetokounmpo injury update: Bucks star out for rest of Game 4 vs. Heat with right ankle sprain (CBS Sports)
As Playoffs Begin, A Notable Number For Each Team In The NBA’s Eastern Conference (Forbes)
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