UPDATE: Giannis Antetokounmpo (ankle) is listed as a starter. It sounds like he’s good to go here, but there’s a chance he’s not peak Giannis.
UPDATE: Kelly Olynyk (knee) is available and Tyler Herro (hip) is also good to go. Olynyk figures to back up Bam Adebayo, but may not get much overlap. He’s a risky play.
UPDATE: Woj reports Giannis Antetokounmpo is “planning to play” in Game 4. Assuming we don’t get any funny business, he should be out there for minutes in the upper 30s and may not be 100 percent.
UPDATE: Giannis Antetokounmpo is a game-time call, as expected. Coach Mike Budenholzer was 10 minutes late for his presser, and he was watching Giannis warm up. We probably won’t know until minutes before tip.
After a few days of really no news to watch, we have the MVP with a new injury and a questionable tag.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (ankle) is questionable after playing through his ankle tweak on Friday. He was grimacing throughout the game, and he just didn’t look like himself. Down 0-3, you’d think he’s going to play, but you never really know.
The bad news is we won’t get much info. There was a report he left the arena gingerly, but maybe the day off helped him. You’d think he still has to give it a shot or else he’ll never hear the end of it, especially for his MVP presentation. We’ll assume him in for Top Plays, but lets just go through what we’d be looking at if he doesn’t go.
The biggest winner would definitely be Eric Bledsoe. With Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton but no Giannis, Bledsoe put up a per-36 line of 25/7/7 in a 256-minute sample (16/6/6 with all those guys). Middleton had a 25/7/6 line in that same split, and Brook also gets much better with an 18/6/2 line per 36 in this split.
It’ll be a team effort to replace Giannis with more George Hill in two-PG lineups while Pat Connaughton becomes a play. Marvin Williams also would be a popular option.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Miami Heat, 3:30 pm ET
Giannis is questionable, as mentioned.
Kelly Olynyk (knee) is questionable after missing Game 3. If he can’t go, Meyers Leonard and Derrick Jones Jr. would see more time.
Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 8:30 pm ET
Nobody is on the injury report for Houston.
Nothing new with the Lakers with probable tags on LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Rajon Rondo. They’ll be good to go (and hopefully Vogel doesn’t play Rondo as much).
