MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – APRIL 16: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks is injured during Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Miami Heat at Fiserv Forum on April 16, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The Milwaukee Bucks watched as star player Giannis Antetokounmpo exited Game 1 against the Miami Heat on Sunday due to an injury.
The Milwaukee Bucks earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference after finishing the regular season with a 58-24 record. After a brief wait, they found out on Apr. 14 that they will face off against the Miami Heat, who earned the eighth seed by making it out of the play-in tournament. The Bucks made their push to return to the NBA Finals for the second time in three years on Sunday afternoon for Game 1.
Unfortunately for the Bucks, they watched their top player exit due to an injury.
In the first quarter, Giannis Antetokounmpo drove to the paint and went for a dunk attempt. Heat forward Kevin Love took the charge on Antetokounmpo, and it caused the Bucks star to land hard on his back.
Antetokounmpo went to the locker room, returned briefly, but then went back to the locker room again. Later on, the Bucks announced that Antetokounmpo was ruled out for the remainder of the game due to a lower back contusion.
Bucks fans, NBA world react to Giannis Antetokounmpo exiting Game 1 vs. Heat due to back injury
Bucks fans and the rest of the NBA world saw the news that Antetokounmpo was no longer game due to his hard landing on the court resulted in a back contusion, and they reacted accordingly.
This wasn’t the only big injury of the game. On Miami’s side, guard Tyler Herro left the game due to a right hand injury. It was later revealed that Herro’s hand was broken.
Antetokounmpo played in 11 minutes prior to his injury, where he scored six points while making two of his four shots, and hauled in three rebounds.
The Bucks and Heat will next play on Wednesday, Apr. 19 for Game 2. Antetokounmpo’s status will be worth monitoring in the coming days to see if he will be able to play, or if he will have to sit out to get properly healed.