MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss a third straight game because of left knee soreness when the Milwaukee Bucks host the Indiana Pacers on Monday afternoon.
Antetokounmpo was listed as probable on the Bucks’ injury report and participated in pregame warm-ups, but coach Mike Budenholzer said Monday the two-time MVP won’t be playing. Antetokounmpo also didn’t play in either of the Bucks’ two losses at Miami on Thursday and Saturday.
“We continue to think it’s kind of the stuff that he and us have dealt with, for me it’s each year that I’ve been here,” Budenholzer said. “We don’t think it’s anything more than that. Him being healthy, taking care of him is always our priority. We’re probably always going to err on the side of caution. We know how important he is to us.”
Budenholzer said a decision hasn’t been reached on whether Antetokounmpo will play Tuesday against the Toronto Raptors.
“We’ll see how he responds, see how he’s feeling tomorrow,” Budenholzer said.
Bucks guard Jrue Holiday (right ankle sprain) and forward Bobby Portis (right quad bruise) are expected to play Monday after being listed as probable. Bucks forward Khris Middleton (right knee soreness) will miss a 16th straight game, and forward Joe Ingles (left knee injury management) also is out.
The Pacers will be missing top scorer and NBA assists leader Tyrese Haliburton for a third straight game because of a left elbow sprain and a mild left knee bone bruise. The Pacers had said Thursday that Haliburton would probably be out about two weeks.