Is Giannis Antetokounmpo playing in Game 4? Insider provides an update

Giannis Antetokounmpo has played just 11 minutes in the Milwaukee Bucks’ first three matchups against the Miami Heat in the NBA Playoffs.

All of those came in Game 1, where the Greek Freak suffered a low back contusion. After missing the previous two contests entirely and the Bucks looking at a 2-1 deficit, there has been a positive update on Antetokounmpo’s status for Game 4. Per The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Giannis will be back in the lineup, barring any setbacks. Following a gutting Game 3 defeat, this comes at a great time for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Is Giannis Antetokounmpo playing in Game 4? Insider provides an update

Bucks fans will hold their breath until tip-off to make sure there are no setbacks with Giannis, but it goes without saying that having him back would be a massive boost on both ends. Though they won Game 2, the Bucks have not looked like themselves much in this series due to Giannis’ injury. Having him back should help get the wheels turning once again, especially defensively, where this team has struggled to put together solid performances in this series.

It will be interesting to see how the Bucks utilize Antetokounmpo coming off of this injury, mainly defensively. Jimmy Butler has had an excellent series thus far, and not having Antetokounmpo on the floor to defend him, which the Bucks did in 2021, has not helped. Antetokounmpo is the Buck best equipped to defend Butler, but it remains to be seen if the team wants to utilize that or try to ease him back into the mix and have others take that challenge.

Having Antetokounmpo back in the fold does not guarantee a win for the Bucks, as this Heat team has proven to be a thorn in Milwaukee’s side despite a plethora of injuries themselves. The Bucks need to learn from their mistakes and come out with some fire in a critical Game 4 tonight. Fingers crossed that all goes well for Antetokounmpo and that he is able to return to the floor tonight in good health.

Stay tuned for Game 4 between the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat tonight as the former looks to even up this first round series.