Just how healthy are the Milwaukee Bucks heading into the road trip?
Health is certainly a big question mark for the Bucks following their loss to the New York Knicks Saturday night. Brook Lopez was the only starter active for Milwaukee, leaving him and seven other players as the only players available to play.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s knee sprain has been a lingering issue for the past week as it sidelined him in Milwaukee’s big win against the Indiana Pacers last Monday. It was surprising to see the rest of the starters on the report, but it’s most likely that this was a precautionary measure before they hit the road for six games.
Still, there are several certainties with injuries, particularly to P.J. Tucker. The newly acquired forward has been sidelined for the last two games with a calf strain, and there is no timetable for his current return. The same uncertainty clouds Bobby Portis, who has missed the previous two games after being forced to enter the league’s health and safety protocols. While there have been reports of a positive test just yet, it seems unlikely he will accompany the team on this trip regardless.
Pending just how these injuries hold up, head coach Mike Budenholzer will likely have to experiment with his rotations over the next six games. Saturday night’s loss saw rookies Sam Merrill, Jordan Nwora, and Mamadi Diakite get extended playing time, and perhaps the injuries to the roster will lead to more opportunities.