Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and Memphis Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant suffered serious injuries in NBA playoff series-opening defeats on Sunday that threatened to disrupt two title contenders.
The Los Angeles Lakers took advantage of Morant’s absence late in the fourth quarter for a late surge that produced a 128-112 victory at Memphis, while the top-seeded host Bucks, who lost their Greek star in the first quarter, fell 130-117 to the eighth-seeded Miami Heat.
Antetokounmpo averaged 31.1 points and 11.8 rebounds a game this season for an NBA-best 58-24 Bucks squad, while Morant averaged 26.2 points for a Grizzlies team that was 51-31.
Photo: AFP
Morant hurt his already-sore right hand midway into the fourth quarter trying to brace a hard landing after contact while driving to the basket.
Morant’s taped right hand took the impact. He rose and ran off to the locker room, grabbing his sore hand and screaming as he exited after scoring 18 points.
“I’m in a good bit of pain,” Morant said after the game, adding that his status was “in jeopardy” for game 2 tomorrow.
Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said after the game that X-rays on Morant’s right hand were negative, but he would likely be kept out of workouts, his status “one game at a time.”
At Milwaukee, Antetokounmpo went onto the floor in the first quarter after defensive contact on a move to the hoop and suffered a lower back bruise that ended his night with game 2 in Milwaukee tomorrow.
“We’ll monitor him,” said Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer, who added that an X-ray had come back “clear” on Antetokounmpo.
“We have to wait and see what the doctors say ... you’ve got to take it day by day and see how he’s doing and how he feels,” Budenholzer said.
In Sunday’s other openers, Kawhi Leonard scored 13 of his game-high 38 points in the fourth quarter to spark the Los Angeles Clippers to a 115-110 victory over the Phoenix Suns, while the top-seeded Denver Nuggets demolished the Minnesota Timberwolves 109-80 as Jamal Murray picked up 24 points and eight assists.
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