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4 Bucks Ruled Out Ahead of Pistons Game Saturday

Dec 3, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley (5) shoots the ball over Milwaukee Bucks forwards Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and Taurean Prince (12) Detroit Pistons in the fourth quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Dec 3, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley (5) shoots the ball over Milwaukee Bucks forwards Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and Taurean Prince (12) Detroit Pistons in the fourth quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

The Milwaukee Bucks will be without some key cogs against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.

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Per the Bucks' official X account, the club will still be missing nine-time All-NBA power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, starting point guard (for now) Kevin Porter Jr., and reserve 3-and-D forward Taurean Prince due to injury. Giannis' little brother, Alex, will be putting in reps with the Bucks' NBAGL affiliate in Oshkosh, the Wisconsin Herd.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is set to miss the next one-to-two weeks of action, at least, with a low-grade left groin strain. The two-time league MVP had previously been shelved because of nagging knee tendinitis, which cost him two games prior to this latest ailment.

When he has been available this year (in 13 games so far), the 2021 Finals MVP has been averaging 31.2 points on .629/.500/.636 shooting splits, 10.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.2 blocks and 0.9 steals a night.

Obviously, missing the Bucks' best player will prove costly against the hottest team in the league. Detroit is in the midst of an 11-game win streak, and doesn't seem likely to drop even a road matchup in Milwaukee, at least without the threat of Antetokounmpo.

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Prince, meanwhile, underwent neck surgery to treat a herniated disc, and could be unavailable for multiple months as he recuperates.

Porter, anointed to be nine-time All-Star Damian Lillard's positional successor at the starting point guard spot heading into the year, has missed all but one game for Milwaukee. The 6-foot-4 USC product first sprained his ankle during the Bucks' season opener, and then tore his meniscus in his rehab ramp-up. Without Porter, Ryan Rollins has stepped up.

Rollins' development likely signifies the end of Porter's tenure as his club's starting point guard, especially the longer his recovery drags on. Through 16 games, the 23-year-old University of Toledo alum has been averaging 18.3 points on .511/.443/.800 shooting splits, 5.9 dimes, 3.9 boards and 1.6 swipes per bout.

Per the team, newly-minted starting small forward Kyle Kuzma has seen his status demoted to questionable ahead of the Pistons clash, as he may be struck down by a new, unspecified illness.

According to the league's latest injury report, Pistons power forward Tobias Harris (right ankle sprain) and shooting guard Jaden Ivey (return to competition reconditioning) are questionable to play. Combo forward Bobi Klintman (left ankle sprain), power forward Isaac Jones (G League assignment), guard Marcus Sasser (right hip impingement), and two-way players Wendell Moore Jr. and Tolu Smith (on assignment to Detroit's G League squad) are all out.

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Alex Kirschenbaum
ALEX KIRSCHENBAUM

Currently also a scribe for Newsweek, Hoops Rumors, The Sporting News and "Gremlins" director Joe Dante's film site Trailers From Hell, Alex is an alum of Men's Journal, Grizzlies fan site Grizzly Bear Blues, and Bulls fan sites Blog-A-Bull and Pippen Ain't Easy, among others.