MILWAUKEE — Clarity with Giannis Antetokounmpo will likely not come until Wednesday night’s game day against the Miami Heat, with the Milwaukee Bucks All-Star forward not practicing Tuesday due to a lower-back contusion sustained Sunday.
The Bucks’ injury report in the wake of that practice listed Antetokounmpo as doubtful for Wednesday, with such designations subject to hourly change until game time. A designation of “doubtful” means the team believes there only is a 25% chance the player will play.
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer had initially expressed optimism after Tuesday’s practice about a return by Antetokounmpo in Wednesday night’s 9 p.m. Game 2 of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference playoff series. The Heat won Sunday’s series opener, 130-117, at Fiserv Forum, with Antetokounmpo playing just 10:50 after taking a hard first-quarter tumble on a blocking foul by Heat forward Kevin Love.
“We have 24-plus hours before game time, so he’ll get treatment,” Budenholzer said Tuesday prior to the issuance of the injury report. “And we’ll see how he feels. I think there has been a lot of progress and hopefully there’s more in the next day or so.”
The expectation appears to be that Antetokounmpo will be back.
“I mean, I think if I’m being honest, I think there is an optimism,” Budenholzer said. “Time, I think is a little bit on our side. But I think that equation will flip, so yeah, yeah, I would say we’re optimistic.”
Antetokounmpo missed two of the four games in the teams’ regular-season series, with the Heat winning both of those in Miami.
The Bucks also listed guard Wesley Matthews as out due to a strained right calf. Matthews played as the Bucks’ third reserve Sunday, going 17:36.
The Heat’s injury report for Wednesday is limited to point guard Kyle Lowry being listed as questionable due to left-knee soreness, with guard Tyler Herro out due to the fractured right hand sustained Sunday and rookie big man Nikola Jovic out due to ongoing back spasms.
Waiting game
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra on Tuesday declined to reveal his replacement starter for Herro, offering, “I don’t know yet.”
Duncan Robinson opened Sunday’s second half when Herro was not available.
“I found out at halftime, when we brought it in,” Robinson said Tuesday.
The upgrade came after Robinson did not play in either of the Heat’s two games in the play-in round.
“It’s been challenges to it,” Robinson said of his playing-time whirlwind. “But it’s part of playing a role on a good team. So just trying to do my work behind the scenes, so when I do get an opportunity, I’m ready to take advantage of it.”
Robinson’s 6:26 in Game 1 came after an extended pregame 3-on-3 scrimmage hours before Sunday’s game. The other five players in that scrimmage did not play Sunday: Victor Oladipo, Haywood Highsmith, Omer Yurtseven, Orlando Robinson and Jamal Cain.
“Just to stay sharp,” Robinson said of the scrimmage, unaware he would be playing later. “Obviously it’s really hard to simulate game reps when a lot of what we’re doing, especially with the guys that are playing heavy minutes, are more walkthroughs, shootaround type stuff.
“So for guys that aren’t playing, to stay sharp, you’ve got to get that kind of competitive aspect. So we’ve been doing that for a while now, and I think it’s helped.”
Quinn interview
Heat assistant coach Chris Quinn confirmed Tuesday he has an interview scheduled with the Detroit Pistons for their coaching vacancy. Dwayne Casey moved up to the front office after coaching the Pistons to a 17-65 record this season.
Quinn last summer interviewed for the Utah Jazz coaching vacancy that went to former Boston Celtics assistant Will Hardy.
Quinn, 39, is completing his ninth season as an assistant to Spoelstra, filling in for games when Spoelstra has not been available.
Schedule update
The NBA announced that if the Philadelphia 76ers sweep the Brooklyn Nets, then Game 4 of Heat-Bucks in Miami will be 7:30 p.m. Monday on TNT. If the Nets win one of the next two games in that series, then Game 4 of Heat-Bucks will be 7 p.m. Monday on NBA TV. Either way, Game 4 is also on Bally Sports Sun in South Florida. ...
Heat center Bam Adebayo placed fifth in voting for NBA Defensive Player of the Year that went to Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. Heat forward Jimmy Butler received one third-place vote in the media balloting.
