By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Following an appearance in team practice of the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, Giannis Antetokounmpo also made his way to a shooting drill after shootaround on Sunday morning, before eventually sitting out a loss, 103-100, to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Target Center.
Due to a right calf strain, the Greek superstar has been sidelined since early December. His latest spell on the injury list also combined with the most recent trade rumors. Recent resurgence fits the initial recovery timeline of two to four weeks, but the Bucks have yet to provide an update with more specific projections. Nevertheless, he is apparently nearing his return to action.
Without the Freak, the Bucks fell to 11-18 with a third straight loss in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season, despite leading until midway through the third quarter and peaking at a 16-point advantage in Minneapolis. His brothers ranged from Thanasis staying on the bench for the team coached by Doc Rivers to Alex remaining on his G League assignment with the Wisconsin Herd. In European starters for the Wolves, Italian Donte DiVincenzo went for 18 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals, and French Rudy Gobert posted an 11-point, 18-rebound double-double to go with three assists, one block, and one steal. In contrast, French Joan Beringer remained with the Iowa Wolves.
Elsewhere in the league, Spanish Eli Ndiaye was ruled out for the remainder of the 2025-26 season by the Atlanta Hawks shortly before a losing effort in a high-scoring affair opposite the Chicago Bulls, 152-150, in State Farm Arena. The 21-year-old forward has not yet debuted in the NBA, limited to G League action with the College Park Skyhawks since joining the Hawks. He is set to undergo surgery after being diagnosed with a torn labrum in his left shoulder. In a similar situation for the Bulls, French Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery) was recently sidelined for the rest of the season.
Sunday’s game featured Lithuanian Matas Buzelis recording a team-high 28 points on 7/8 three-pointers, 3/3 two-pointers, and 1/2 free throws, alongside three rebounds, two blocks, and one assist. Fellow starter, Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic chipped in 13 points, six assists, five rebounds, and three steals.
For the hosts, Serbian Nikola Djurisic was assigned to the Skyhawks and Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (illness) remained out. French starter Zaccharie Risacher tallied 17 points plus two assists and two rebounds, and Czech reserve Vit Krejci scored 20 points behind 6/10 triples.