The Miami Heat took a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks after winning Game 3. When Game 4 of the series is played in Miami on Monday night, the Heat will be looking to seize control of the series at home.
Update on Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jimmy Butler’s injury status
The Miami Heat took care of business on Saturday night, thumping the top-seeded Bucks 121-99. They now have a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series.
Jimmy Butler led the Heat to a double-digit lead in Game 3 with 30 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 28 minutes.
After suffering two hard falls in the third quarter, the All-Star returned to the locker room and sat on the bench as his teammates surged to a 2-1 lead in the first-round game.
Butler, as expected, should be fine going forward and could have finished the game on Saturday if the score had been closer. Butler might still be named on Miami’s official injury report, which is anticipated to be released Sunday afternoon, but there is no indication that he will miss Game 4.
Butler got therapy on Sunday, according to head coach Erik Spoelstra, and will play again Monday night. The questionable tag appears to be a formality, but we’ll find out more about Butler’s status closer to the game on Monday.
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The top seed in the Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks were without the best player in the NBA, Giannis Antetokounmpo, for the second game in a row, so they were at a major disadvantage.
So I can throw all the stats I want at you, but the main question is, what is Antetokounmpo’s current status?
Antetokounmpo (back) is listed as questionable for Monday’s Game 4.
The designation isn’t surprising given Antetokounmpo’s absence from Game 3 on Saturday, his second consecutive absence after collapsing on his lower back in Game 1.
Antetokounmpo did some individual work at Sunday’s practice, according to Eric Nehm of The Athletic, but the team has been pretty tight-lipped about his overall progress.
As of Sunday evening, Antetokounmpo’s status remained unknown, but with Milwaukee behind the series 2-1, Antetokounmpo may have more reason to push through any leftover soreness.
In Game 3, Khris Middleton had 23 points (8-14 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 4-5 FT), five rebounds, six assists, and two steals in 34 minutes.
During Saturday’s loss, Middleton was effective from the field and finished with team highs in points and assists.
The veteran wing has averaging 24.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists in 31.7 minutes through the first three games of the opening-round series, but if Giannis Antetokounmpo (back) continues out, Milwaukee may need Middleton to step up his game.
Injury reports Bucks
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Back) – Questionable
- Wesley Matthews (Calf) – Out
Injury reports Heat
- Bam Adebayo (Hamstring) – Questionable
- Jimmy Butler (Lower Body) – Questionable
- Nikola Jovic (Back) – Out
- Tyler Herro (Hand) – Out
- Victor Oladipo (Knee) – Out for the season
