Milwaukee Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo’s status for Game 3 against the Heat has not yet been determined, and now Heat point guard Kyle Lowry is also in doubt.
A two-time NBA MVP, Antetokounmpo missed Game 2 with a back injury, and he is listed as questionable for Saturday night’s Game 3 in Miami.
“We’re just going to monitor him the rest of today,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said Friday. “We’ll monitor him tomorrow and see where he is, and together with him make decisions.”
Lowry is also questionable for Game 3 with left knee soreness.
Lowry came off the bench and played 18 minutes for Miami in Game 2, scoring five points with four rebounds and three assists.
Lowry has been dealing with lingering knee soreness throughout the season. He played in 55 regular-season games and averaged 11.2 points with 5.1 assists and 4.1 rebounds. In two playoff games, he has scored 3.5 points with three assists and 2.5 rebounds per game.
Antetokounmpo has averaged 31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists this season, but the Bucks did not need him for Game 2, rolling to a 15-point win over the Heat.
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said Miami had to prepare for “two teams” depending on whether Antetokounmpo will play. But he also said in the postseason, you need to “figure things out” and “expect the unexpected.”
“With Giannis playing we have to pack that paint,” Heat forward Kevin Love said. “You’re never going to stop him. You just have to try to slow him down, limit him as much as possible, keep him off the free-throw line and in some cases hope that misses.”
Milwaukee also ruled small forward Wesley Matthews out for the game.
Herro has successful surgery
Heat guard Tyler Herro underwent successful surgery on his right hand on Friday, the team announced.
The Heat said Herro would be out a minimum of six weeks, likely ruling him out of any postseason games unless Miami makes the NBA Finals. Herro suffered a broken hand in Game 1 of Miami’s series against Milwaukee.
Herro played in 67 games for Miami this season, averaging averaging 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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