Milwaukee Bucks All-NBA forward Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a hyperextended left knee but did not suffer any structural damage. He was officially listed as doubtful for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final on Thursday.
According to the team, Antetokounmpo underwent an MRI, which confirmed the hyperextended knee. The MRI also revealed there was no damaged ligaments.
“I think that’s why when you talk about the range of possibilities, you know, I think where this has landed has to be looked at as a positive. It’s still a really difficult fall,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said Wednesday.
Antetokounmpo sustained the injury trying to defend an alley-oop lob to Atlanta’s Clint Capela with 7:14 left in the third quarter of Game 4 on Tuesday.
Atlanta won 110-88 and tied the series at 2-2.
It is a devastating injury for the Bucks, who were in prime position to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1974. Antetokounmpo’s injury disrupts that objective.