Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (strained left calf) out final 3 games of regular season

During the third quarter of Tuesday’s victory over Boston, Giannis Antetokounmpo strained his left calf.

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo avoided serious injury and has been diagnosed with a left calf injury after leaving Tuesday’s 104-91 win against the Boston Celtics because of the injury. He will miss the final three games of the regular season, according to the team.

Medical Update: In last night’s victory against Boston, Giannis Antetokounmpo had to exit the game in the third quarter due to an injury to his left soleus, which is in the calf area.

An MRI conducted last night confirmed Antetokounmpo’s diagnosis of a left soleus (calf) strain. As a result, he will be unable to participate in the remaining three games of the…

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 10, 2024

What happened: Antetokounmpo was heading up the court after a 3-point basket by Boston’s Derrick White late in the third quarter when the two-time MVP grabbed his left calf and took a seat on the floor before being helped off the court.

“When you see one of your teammates injured, it’s naturally a cause for worry,” said Bucks guard Damian Lillard post-match. “We spend more time with each other than with our own families. That was the primary concern. And when it happens to be your star player, the backbone of our team, particularly at this stage in the season, it’s definitely a moment of shock, especially when there was no one else present.”

Officials from the Bucks stated that Antetokounmpo suffered a strain in his left soleus, a muscle located in the calf.

Impact on Bucks: The injury comes just as the Bucks are gearing up for the playoffs. The Bucks have three games remaining in the regular season and are No. 2 in the Eastern Conference. However, the New York Knicks trail the Bucks by one game in the standings for that slot.

In addition, the Orlando Magic, seeded No. 4, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, seeded No. 5, are two games behind the Bucks. The Indiana Pacers, seeded No. 6, trail Milwaukee by 2.5 games.

Bucks forward Khris Middleton emphasized the importance of their teammate’s health, stating, “We’re going to need him, so if he needs to rest, or even sit out the next few games to be prepared for the playoffs, we need him to be as close to 100% as possible.”

There won’t be much time for the Bucks to worry about that, though, as they host the Magic tonight (8 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass), visit the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday (8 p.m. ET, NBA TV) and close out the season in Orlando on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass).

Since mid-March, Antetokounmpo has been absent from three games due to tendinopathy in his left hamstring. In addition, he missed a game on March 4 because of left Achilles tendinitis.

This was only the fifth instance in the previous 30 games where Antetokounmpo, Lillard, and Middleton were all available for the Bucks.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.