Milwaukee Bucks: Previewing potential playoff matchup versus Charlotte Hornets

The Milwaukee Bucks and Charlotte Hornets are both banged up

Both of these teams have been hit with the injury bug lately, leaving them without some key rotational pieces.

For the Bucks, they have been without Giannis Antetokounmpo for the past three games with knee soreness. Milwaukee has gone 1-2 in his absence, and there is no doubt that they miss having the MVP in the lineup. With the playoffs nearing, Antetokounmpo’s soreness is certainly a looming issue. While nothing is confirmed, he will likely miss his fourth consecutive game tonight.

Antetokounmpo is undoubtedly the biggest missing piece that Milwaukee could have, but another player that has been sidelined recently is P.J. Tucker. The 35-year-old has appeared in just three games with the Bucks since they traded for him last month as he continues to nurse a left calf strain. The team has gotten a minimal assessment of how the forward fits in, although his reputable defense is a big reason they pushed their chips to the center of the table to acquire him.

The Hornets are also without several core players, the first being rookie phenom LaMelo Ball. The 19-year-old has been having a fantastic season that saw him skyrocket to the top of every Rookie of the Year ladder, but that came to a halt as he suffered a fractured wrist last month. Ball has since undergone surgery and has not ruled out a return to the floor this season as the Hornets remain engaged in the playoff chase.

Along with Ball, Charlotte will be without another starter for the foreseeable future in Gordon Hayward. The two-time All-Star suffered a right foot sprain earlier this month and will be reevaluated for return in approximately four weeks.

With those two key pieces out of the lineup, predicting where exactly Charlotte will finish in the standings is only further complicated. Meanwhile, the Bucks will have to battle through their own share of adversity with the health of Antetokounmpo’s knee uncertain.