Giannis sits out with knee sprain
Two-time reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has a sprained left knee and didn’t play in the Bucks’ game Monday night against the Pacers.
The league’s injury report listed Antetokounmpo as out for the game due to the knee issue.
Antetokounmpo played 34 minutes Saturday and had 26 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds in a 120-113 victory over the Spurs. His 15 assists matched a career high.
The 6-foot-11 forward has averaged 28.7 points, 11.7 rebounds and 9.8 assists during the Bucks’ six-game winning streak entering Monday’s game. He had a stretch of three consecutive triple-doubles during that streak.
Over his last six games, Antetokounmpo is shooting 59% from the field, 44% from 3-point range and 80% on free-throw attempts.
■ Kyrie Irving will miss the Nets’ threegame road trip this week while dealing with a family matter. The Nets said Irving wouldn’t accompany the team for games Tuesday against the Trail Blazers, Wednesday against the league-leading Jazz and Friday against the Pistons. The Nets had already been playing without fellow All-Star Kevin Durant because of a strained left hamstring but they’ve won 15 of their last 17 games. Irving missed seven games in January after leaving the team for personal reasons. He didn’t specify the reason for that absence, though he did say there was “family and personal stuff ” going on . ... Derrick Rose rejoined the Knicks, though it’s unclear when he will play again as he recovers from COVID-19. Rose detailed his struggles, saying his kids also had gotten sick and they all quarantined together. “They say everybody is different, but with me I never felt anything like that before,” Rose said. “I’ve had the flu. It was nothing like the flu. It was that times 10.” Rose, 32, hasn’t played since Feb. 28. He missed the final two games before the All-Star break and all six games so far in the second half of the season.
College basketball: Minnesota hired Xavier assistant Ben Johnson as its new head coach. Johnson, 40, is a Minneapolis native who played his final two college seasons for the Golden Gophers. He replaces Richard Pitino, who was let go last week after eight seasons. Johnson served as an assistant under Pitino for five seasons.
NFL: Six more lawsuits alleging sexual assault and inappropriate conduct were filed against Texans QB Deshaun Watson, including one that alleges the he sexually assaulted a woman this month. The attorney representing the women, Tony Buzbee, has filed 13 lawsuits against Watson since last week. Watson has denied wrongdoing. ... The Giants and former Titans CB Adoree’ Jackson, 25, agreed on a three-year contract worth $39 million, ESPN reported. The deal included $26.5 million in guarantees and more than $20 million fully guaranteed.
NHL: Monday night’s Oilers-Canadiens game in Montreal was postponed because two Canadiens players entered the league’s COVID-19 protocols . ... The Bruins are on schedule to return from their two-game COVID-19 pause Thursday against the Islanders. The game also would be the first pro sporting event in Massachusetts with paying fans since the pandemic began.