The Milwaukee Bucks are in a tough spot. Sitting at 17-24, they head into their Martin Luther King Jr.
Day matchup against the 20-24 Atlanta Hawks knowing just how important this one is-not just for morale, but for their place in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Both teams are riding three-game losing streaks, and with the Hawks currently clinging to the 10th seed and the Bucks just two games back in 11th, the stakes are clear: win, or risk falling further behind in a tightly packed standings battle.
But for the Bucks, the challenge goes beyond just the opponent. It’s about navigating a critical stretch of the season without their superstar fully unleashed.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is back in the lineup, but he’s not back to full throttle. After missing most of December with a calf strain, the two-time MVP has been working under a minutes restriction since his return-and according to head coach Doc Rivers, that’s not changing anytime soon.
“No, not anytime soon,” Rivers said pregame in Atlanta when asked if Giannis would be cleared for full minutes. “This was planned, though.
I think it is frustrating for Giannis. It’s definitely frustrating for us, but we feel strongly that this is the right thing to do.
And we’re not going to come off of it. Probably for a while.”
It’s a tough pill to swallow for a Bucks team that’s been searching for consistency all season. They went 2-6 in Giannis’ absence, and while his return has brought some stability, the results haven’t followed-Milwaukee is just 5-5 since he came back. That’s not the kind of bounce-back you expect when your franchise cornerstone returns to the floor, but it’s also a reminder that even Giannis needs time to ramp back up after a soft-tissue injury.
The plan, clearly, is about the long game. Rivers and the Bucks’ medical staff are prioritizing Giannis’ health over short-term gains, a decision that’s understandable but still frustrating for a team trying to claw its way back into the playoff picture. Right now, Giannis is playing around 30 minutes a night-enough to make an impact, but not quite enough to carry the load in crunch time the way we’ve seen him do so often.
For a player on the verge of his 10th All-Star selection, that’s a tough position to be in. And for a team that’s used to leaning on his dominance, it’s a major adjustment. The Bucks are trying to find ways to win without overextending their best player-and that’s a delicate balance to strike, especially when every game feels like it could swing the season.
So as Milwaukee takes the floor in Atlanta, the mission is clear: find a way to win, even if Giannis isn’t at full capacity. Because in a crowded Eastern Conference, every game matters-and the Bucks can’t afford to keep slipping.