The Chicago Bulls face the Milwaukee Bucks for the third time this season—and the 274th meeting overall. Chicago is 0–2 against Milwaukee this year but holds a slim 137–136 edge in the all-time series. The Bucks will have a chance to even that mark, though it won’t come easy without their best player available.
Bucks to face Bulls without Giannis Antetokounmpo
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Giannis Antetokounmpo is set to miss his fourth straight game with a calf strain. The Greek Freak dominated the Bulls in the first two matchups, averaging 35.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. As a result, Chicago won’t be tasked with game-planning against arguably the most unguardable player in the NBA. Amid [ongoing trade chatter](https://pippenainteasy.com/chicago-bulls-sudden-glimmer-hope-giannis-antetokounmpo-isnt-what-seems), if Antetokounmpo isn’t moved, he’s expected to return to the Bucks’ lineup in early March.
In addition to Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee will also be without its second-leading scorer, Kevin Porter Jr. Porter Jr. has been sidelined since January 21 with an oblique strain, and there remains no clear timetable for his return. As Doc Rivers put it, “He’s not gonna play anytime soon.” For context, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner each missed roughly 20 games last season with similar injuries.
Bulls short-handed with key rotation players out
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As for the Bulls, Chicago will be without three rotation players: Zach Collins, Josh Giddey, and Tre Jones. Collins remains sidelined with a toe sprain and isn’t scheduled for re-evaluation until mid-February. At the earliest, he could return following the All-Star break. Meanwhile, Jones is set to be re-evaluated from his hamstring strain on February 6, which should provide more clarity on the point guard’s return timeline.
Giddey’s hamstring situation has been more finicky. The Aussie returned to action on January 22 after missing 11 games but appeared in just four contests before being shut down again for precautionary reasons. Initially listed as out with hamstring tightness against Miami on January 29, Giddey has now missed four straight games, with his designation reverting back to a hamstring strain.
The Bulls also have three players listed as questionable: Kevin Huerter, Julian Phillips, and Jalen Smith. Huerter missed Chicago’s final game against Miami with back spasms, Phillips has been on and off the injury report for weeks with a sprained wrist, and Smith is in danger of missing his third straight game due to a lingering calf injury.
Full injury report for Chicago Bulls vs Milwaukee Bucks
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The complete injury report for tonight's game is as follows:
### Chicago Bulls
Out: Zach Collins (Right 1st Toe Sprain), Noa Essengue (Left Shoulder Surgery), Josh Giddey (Left Hamstring Strain), Tre Jones (Left Hamstring Strain), Dario Saric (Not with team).
Questionable: Kevin Huerter (Lower Back Spasms), Julian Phillips (Right Wrist Sprain), Jalen Smith (Right Calf Injury Management).
### Milwaukee Bucks
Out: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Right Calf Strain), Gary Harris (Left Hamstring Strain), Kevin Porter Jr. (Right Oblique Muscle Strain), Tauren Prince (Neck Surgery).