Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to progress in his ramp-up period following December’s lengthy sideline stint (calf strain). There weren’t a lot of positives in the Milwaukee Bucks‘ 108-104 loss in Denver on Sunday, but Giannis gave fans a silver lining to carry over into next game. One, he logged his most minutes, 33, since mid-November, prior to either his calf or groin injuries.
Even more encouraging, he also played an entire fourth quarter for just the third time all season. That doesn’t mean the Bucks should run him into the ground, but it’s a good sign moving forward. When they need to lean on their leader in crunch time, the Nuggets game signals that he is back to being available.
Even in loss, another step forward for Giannis
When Giannis first returned from his calf strain, late last month, he told reporters he would take roughly five to 10 games to get fully reconditioned. His first three nights back, Doc Rivers limited his minutes to 25-28 per contest. The Bucks had to hold him out for extended stretches, even in tight games, to have him available for the closing minutes.
Jan 2, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dunks the ball in the first half against Charlotte Hornets forward Tidjane Salaun (31) at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
He had already made strides. Beginning in their first game of the new year, a one-point win over the Hornets clinched by a Giannis alley-oop dunk from Kevin Porter Jr., Antetokounmpo entered Sunday’s affair having reached 30 minutes in four straight games. Now that number is five. Even better, he said postgame that the extended time on the court didn’t feel like too much, too soon. He felt fine.
“They say high altitude, I didn’t feel nothing,” Giannis said. “I felt good. I felt great. I tried to be aggressive, get rebounds, get downhill. Felt good.”
Giannis finished with 31 points, eight rebounds, 11 assists and two blocks, yet another dominant performance from the Greek Freak though not enough for the win. The Bucks dropped to 17-22 in defeat, a game and a half out of the play-in.
Eight games into his return, he can extend his 30-minute streak to a season-high six games hosting Minnesota (26-14) tonight. Milwaukee is currently a 3.5-point home favorite.
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