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Giannis Antetokounmpo to miss at least a week

Giannis Antetokounmpo to miss at least a week

NBA DraftKings Network News Rail

Published:

By: Alex Hunter

Giannis Antetokounmpo has missed three games in a row with a left calf strain and the forward will remain sidelined for at least a week, including the All-Star Game, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. Antetokounmpo initially experienced tightness in his left calf prior to this past Wednesday’s game vs. the Hornets and the superstar was scratched from the Bucks’ lineup just before tipoff. Last season, a left calf strain kept Antetokounmpo out for the last nine games of the year, including the playoffs, so this news is obviously very concerning for the forward.

With Antetokounmpo sidelined, Damian Lillard should continue to put up huge numbers as the Bucks’ top option. In the five games Lillard has played without Antetokounmpo this season, Lillard is averaging 30.8 points, 10.6 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game. With Antetokounmpo off the court this season, Lillard’s usage rises 4.8 percentage points to 33% and his assist rate jumps 10.5 percentage points to 41.6%.

Bobby Portis should also continue to start at power forward in place of Antetokounmpo and thrive with the starting job. With Antetokounmpo inactive this season, Portis is averaging 20.8 points and 12 rebounds per game with a 28.4% usage rate.

Milwaukee is 4-5 with Antetokounmpo out this season and facing the 76ers on Sunday, the Bucks are a 2.5-point underdog on DraftKings Sportsbook.

Alex Hunter
Alex Hunter is an avid DFS player and sports handicapper, who has been a proud member of the DraftKings Network team since 2020. He is a data-driven analyst, who earned his bachelor’s degree in communications at Worcester State University and has been in the sports content business for nearly a decade, covering the NBA, NFL and PGA TOUR. Alex is a diehard Boston Celtics fan, who loves to be on the golf course when he isn’t grinding lineups or producing content. For all of Alex’s work or if you need any lineup advice, be sure to follow him @Hunta512 on X.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is Hunta512) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.