Injuries sting stars at start
Coach Mike Budenholzer expressed cautious optimism regarding the status of Giannis Antetokounmpo after the two-time league MVP left the Bucks’ Eastern Conference playoff opener with a bruised lower back.
Antetokounmpo isn’t the only prominent player already dealing with a health issue after the first weekend of the playoffs. Injuries to some of the NBA’s top stars have dimmed the start of the postseason, with title hopes possibly fading just as quickly depending on how bad they’re hurt.
Budenholzer said Monday that Antetokounmpo underwent an MRI after the game that revealed “everything’s clean.” The top-seeded Bucks lost 130-117 to the Heat on Sunday and trail the best-of-seven series 1-0 heading into Game 2 on Wednesday night.
“I would say he’s still sore, but I think progress,” Budenholzer said. “... We’re probably fortunate that (we have) two days between games. I think (we’re) still mostly positive, mostly optimistic, but we’ll see how he feels over the next day or two.”
Injuries over the span of a couple hours Sunday also sidelined Ja Morant of the Grizzlies and the Heat’s Tyler Herro, keeping them from finishing their playoff openers.
Both Antetokounmpo and Morant were hurt on drives to the basket where each landed awkwardly.
Herro broke his right hand late in the second quarter, apparently while diving for a loose ball.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Herro, seen with a cast on his hand after the game, won’t play Game 2 on Wednesday night and the Heat will figure out what to do next.
Morant drove to the basket against 6-foot-10 Anthony Davis with 5:48 left, with the Grizzlies trailing the Lakers 105-101. His right hand appeared to bend the wrong direction as he hit the court. Morant writhed in pain, then ran toward the Grizzlies’ bench letting out a yell before sprinting to the locker room.
Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said X-rays were negative and the Grizzlies will do further testing.
Morant said he’s doubtful for Game 2 on Wednesday night with the Grizzlies down 0-1 following a 128-112 loss.
The Knicks’ promising playoff start has hit a snag. Versatile guard Josh Hart, whose arrival in a deadline trade has revitalized the team’s bench, has a sprained left ankle and could miss Game 2 on Tuesday night against the Cavaliers. Hart was instrumental in helping the Knicks win Game 1. He made a clutch 3-pointer in the closing minutes and single-handedly outscored the Cavaliers’ bench 17-14. His injury comes as the fifth-seeded Knicks were finally back to full strength after both forward Julius Randle and guard Jalen Brunson missed time late in the season with injuries.
Nuggets roll: Jamal Murray scored 24 points and the top-seeded Nuggets routed the Timberwolves 109-80 in the opener of their Western Conference playoff series Sunday night in Denver.
Nikola Jokic added 13 points and 14 rebounds for the Nuggets. Anthony Edwards led the Wolves with 18 points.