Bucks injury report vs Wizards: Is Giannis playing tonight? Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton statuses, probable starting lineup, time, TV

Posted by author December 21, 2024 NBA

Spread the love

The Milwaukee Bucks will raise a banner Saturday night in Milwaukee, celebrating their title in the Emirates NBA Cup. Fans arriving a few minutes early to their seats at Fiserv Forum before Milwaukee takes on the Washington Wizards will get to see the team commemorate the triumph in the second-annual midseason showcase.

Then comes the game itself, when the Bucks will likely be short-handed against a 4-21 Wizards team, which logged a 123-114 win over Charlotte on Thursday in its last game.

Milwaukee (14-12) took one on the chin Friday in Cleveland, 124-101. The Bucks will have to play for the second straight night without star guard Damian Lillard, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is highly doubtful for the game, as well.

Is Giannis Antetokounmpo playing tonight vs the Wizards?

No, barring something unexpected.

Antetokounmpo was listed as questionable for the game against the Wizards with back spasms but will almost certainly be out. Bucks coach Doc Rivers termed it as “probably out” during his pregame press conference, and Antetokounmpo was not on the court for his normal pregame routine.

“I’m saying he’s out because I think he should be out, personally. But with Giannis, it’s ‘probable out,’ because he’s trying … I didn’t even want him to come, because I knew if he came, then he’s gonna try to get on the floor,” Rivers said. “I just think he should be out. But I don’t make that decision.”

The newly-crowned NBA Cup MVP has been managing tendinopathy (pain) in his right patella since training camp but has not missed a game with that issue so far this season.

The Bucks are 1-1 this year in games Antetokounmpo has not played.

Will Damian Lillard play tonight?

Damian Lillard is listed as out Saturday.

Lillard, who was named to the Emirates NBA Cup All-Tournament team following his team’s victory Tuesday, developed discomfort in his right calf against Atlanta in the previous Saturday’s semifinal; the injury was re-diagnosed as a strain. Though head coach Doc Rivers said Friday he couldn’t predict if Lillard will play Saturday, it didn’t sound promising that he’d be available.

“He could play as early as Chicago on Monday or right after that,” Rivers said. “He worked out today and felt pretty good.”

The Bucks will also be without AJ Johnson, Chris Livingston and Tyler Smith, all of whom are currently assigned to the G-League.

What’s Khris Middleton’s injury status?

Khris Middleton, meanwhile, was listed as probable as he continues to work back from bilateral ankle surgery, and Rivers said Middleton is available even after close to 20 minutes against Cleveland on Friday night.

“Khris struggled yesterday, but I kept telling him, be aggressive,” Rivers said. “I hate to say this, but middle of the third quarter we knew the game wasn’t going to go our way, so I just started calling Khris’s number every time down the floor. He looked at me a couple times like, ‘I just missed three in a row.’ You don’t miss this many games and think you’re gonna have rhythm, and we need him, so burn those minutes, that’s basically what I was doing last night.

“He told me this morning, ‘I like what you’re doing, but then I’m exhausted too,’ and I said, ‘I know,’ but it’s just we’ve got to get him through it and it’s going to take a minute. It’s going to take a while before he’s great, but we need him.”

The Bucks have not yet played a back-to-back since Middleton returned to the lineup Dec. 6 after he missed the first 21 games of the season. He has only played in both ends of a back-to-back once in the past two-plus seasons.

Middleton has come off the bench in every game he’s played this season, averaging 20.8 minutes per game.

Milwaukee Bucks injury report

Out: Damian Lillard (right calf strain), AJ Johnson, Chris Livingston, Tyler Smith (G League)
Questionable: Giannis Antetokounmpo (back spasms)
Probable: Khris Middleton (bilateral ankle surgery)

Bucks probable starters

Guards: Andre Jackson Jr., AJ Green
Forwards: Taurean Prince, Giannis Antetokounmpo
Center: Brook Lopez

Wisconsin-native players checking in for the Wizards

Washington is loaded with Wisconsin-native players, led by leading scorer Jordan Poole, a graduate of Milwaukee King who averages 20.6 points per game.

La Crosse native and former University of Wisconsin star Johnny Davis has played in 19 games for the Wizards this year and averages 3.5 points. Sussex Hamilton graduate and former UW-Milwaukee player Patrick Baldwin Jr. has seen action in 12 games this year and averages 2.1 points per contest.

Former Bucks second-round draft pick Malcolm Brogdon, who played with Milwaukee for the first three years of his career, averages 14.9 points per game but has only played in 10 contests for the Wizards, including their game Thursday. Brogdon had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his thumb in October.

Wizards injury report: Kyle Kuzma still out

Second-leading Wizards scorer Kyle Kuzma hasn’t played since Nov. 27 with a left rib sprain. He’s listed as out for the game with the Bucks and will miss a ninth straight.

What time is the Bucks vs. Wizards game?

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21.

Is the Bucks vs. Wizards game on TV?

The game can be seen on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin with announcers Dave Koehn, Marques Johnson and Melanie Ricks.

The game will also air on AM-620 WTMJ in Milwaukee and the BMO Bucks radio network with Josh Maurer and Justin Garcia.

Want some Emirates NBA Cup championship swag?

The Bucks said Emirates NBA Cup Championship merchandise will be available in the Bucks Pro Shop at Fiserv Forum beginning Saturday.

Bucks vs. Wizards odds and over/under

The Bucks are 11.5-point favorites against the Wizards, according to BetMGM. The over/under for the two teams is 223.5 points.

Doc Rivers a nominee for Hall of Fame

Rivers, who already has been named one of the 15 greatest coaches in NBA history, is eligible to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for the first time.

“It means a lot,” Rivers said before the game against the Cavaliers. “It means that I’m old. It means that I’ve done good work in the league to be mentioned. It’s humbling. And, you know, other than that I don’t like talking about it because we’re in the middle of the season. That’s not where my head is at obviously.”

He is one of 10 coaches to win at least 1,000 regular-season games and has a chance to catch 11-time champion Phil Jackson for No. 7 all-time this season if the Bucks win 28 more games.

“I think it’s hard to look back on anything you’ve accomplished when you’re still trying to accomplish,” he said. “Because that’s not your focus. So, that’s probably where I’m at right now with it.”

Rivers is one of four active head coaches on that top-15 list, which was unveiled with the Top 75 players of all time in 2021. Gregg Popovich (San Antonio), Steve Kerr (Golden State) and Erik Spoelstra (Miami) are still coaching. Former Bucks coach Don Nelson is also in that exclusive group.