Here’s who’s available and who’s not for Milwaukee's Nov. 9 game
The Milwaukee Bucks’ perennial all-star forward, Giannis Antetokounmpo, will play against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets today, as he was listed as available in the NBA’s most recent injury report.
Antetokounmpo has been dealing with a left knee issue, but has played in eight of the Bucks’ first nine games this season.
Giannis Taking Over
In his last outing against the Chicago Bulls on Nov. 7, Antetokounmpo tallied a near triple-double, finishing with 41 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists in the Bucks’ 126-110 NBA Cup Group Play game. This season, the two-time MVP is averaging 33.4 points and 12.9 points per game.
The Bucks enter play today with a 6-3 record, having last lost to the Toronto Raptors 128-100 on night two of a back-to-back on Nov. 4.
Three days later against the Bulls, Milwaukee kicked it back into gear and ultimately got the job done to solidify a 1-0 start to NBA Cup play. The Bucks won the NBA Cup last year, joining the Los Angeles Lakers as the only two teams to ever hoist the In-Season Tournament trophy in the event’s young history.
“Good teams don’t lose two in a row,” Antetokounmpo said in a postgame interview on Nov. 7. “We just gotta keep on having that habit, like once we lose one, we gotta bounce back. Then once we win one, now we gotta build on that. One by one, one by one, game at a time. But you gotta take it as a five game stretch. Can you win five in a row? If you don’t, start again from scratch.”
Big Matchup with Rockets
Against the Rockets, the Bucks will need Antetokounmpo’s efforts on both ends of the floor given the team will be facing another perennial all-star and former MVP in Kevin Durant, who is averaging 24 points per game in eight games this season.
Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. remains out with right knee issue, as he had meniscus surgery on Nov. 3 and will be out of action for four weeks. Taurean Prince, who missed the Bucks’ last game, will also be out for Milwaukee’s contest against Houston, as he is still dealing with a neck strain.
On the Rockets’ side, all players should be set to go against the Bucks with the exception of Dorian Finney-Smith and Fred VanVleet who are out due to having ankle surgery and an ACL injury, respectively. Houston enters play today with a 5-3 record and will aim to get back in the win column following the team’s first loss since Oct. 24 two nights ago against the San Antonio Spurs.