Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo Exits Cavaliers Game, Ruled Out with New Injury

Nov 17, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) throws a pass beside Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) in the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images

Nine-time Milwaukee Bucks All-Star power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo departed the club's ongoing clash against another mighty Eastern Conference contender, the 9-5 Cleveland Cavaliers.

Near the end of the second quarter, the 30-year-old big man botched a layup attempt, and was quickly seen grabbing at his groin. A limping Antetokounmpo fouled reigning Cavaliers Defensive Player of the Year big man Evan Mobley to get out of the game. He departed for the Rocket Arena locker room, never to return.

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Per Eric Nehm of The Athletic, the two-time MVP has been ruled out for the rest of the night with a left groin strain.

Cleveland led by a hair, 59-57, at the break. Antetokounmpo finishes the night with 14 points (on 6-of-10 shooting from the field and 2-of-3 shooting from the charity stripe) in 13 minutes, plus five rebounds, four assists and one steal.

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Head coach Doc Rivers gave sixth man power forward Bobby Portis the starting nod in Antetokounmpo's stead to kick off the contest's third quarter.

Should Antetokounmpo miss extended time with this groin issue (it's tricky terrain, and can occasionally impede on-court movement for a good long while), it could spell trouble for the 8-6 Bucks.

Antetokounmpo is, by a wide margin, Milwaukee's best player. With starting point guard Kevin Porter Jr. (meniscus tear surgery recovery) and 3-and-D reserve combo forward Taurean Prince (neck surgery rehab) both already on the shelf — thus thinning out the ranks of rotation pieces who do some of what Antetokounmpo does — the Bucks can ill afford to lose their leading scorer or another one of their best defensive forwards.

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Through 12 healthy contests heading into Monday's action, Antetokounmpo had been averaging a robust stat line of 32.6 points (on .630/.500/.636 shooting splits — granted, those 1.5 triple tries are wide open, but the 6-foot-11 superstar is still connecting on his best rate ever), 11.3 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 1.3 blocks and 0.9 swipes per bout.

Newly minted starting small forward Kyle Kuzma, swingman AJ Green, point guard Ryan Rollins, and reserve wing Gary Trent Jr. may all need to step up as scorers and distributors sans Antetokounmpo. Center Myles Turner may be called upon to handle more defensive switches, while Portis could also see bonus playing time.

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