Giannis Antetokounmpo Not On Bucks Injury Reported and Taurean Prince Expected To Play Again This Season
Prince has been out since early November as he underwent surgery to address a herniated disk in his neck in the middle of the month. The Bucks were granted a disabled player exception for Prince’s injury as NBA doctors determined he was more likely than not to be out through June 15.
Eric Nehm of The Athletic reported yesterday that Prince has been working out regularly on the court after practices and before games since he returned to the team following the surgery.
“Taurean Prince last played on Nov. 4 against the Toronto Raptors (eighth game of the season) and underwent surgery on his neck on Nov. 13,” Nehm tweeted. “He has been a constant fixture on the floor after practices and before games, working out on the floor since returning from that surgery.”
Milwaukee has four players on their injury report for tonight’s game against Phoenix. Antetokounmpo isn’t one of the four. The Bucks are 16-17 in games that Antetokounmpo has played. Without the Greek Freak, the Bucks average three fewer points per game and allow five to six more per game.
Even better news, Taurean Prince is expected to play again this year. Prince could return to the court against the Suns as he has been upgraded to questionable. Now that doesn’t mean that the 31-year-old will suit up against the Suns, will have to wait and see. A final determination will likely come as it gets closer to the 8:00 p.m. tipoff (ET).
Kevin Porter Jr. Out Again
Prince is known for his “3-an-D” ability. He averages 6.1 points, on 44.7% shooting and 42.9% from the 3-point line, along with 1.6 rebounds in 21 minutes this year. He is expected to come off the bench when he returns and probably see around 15-20 minutes per contest. If the 6-6 forward doesn’t play tonight, his next opportunity will be Thursday in Miami.
“It’s plenty of ppl you could easily count out, but I’m not one of them,” Prince said in a November 10th retreat tweet yesterday. “All I did was finish a chapter in the book to start the next one. It is what it is, and it will never be what it’s not. Be back soon, love!”
While Prince could return, Kevin Porter Jr. will miss his fourth consecutive game due to right knee inflammation. Porter Jr. is having a career season, though the 25-year-old has only played in 33 games this year. His next opportunity is Thursday against the Heat.
Alex Antetokounmpo and Cormac Ryan are also listed out for tonight’s affair. The pair is not injured; rather, they are on a G-League assignment with the Wisconsin Herd.
