Inside The Heat

Giannis Antetokounmpo's Return Was "Encouraging," So Miami Heat Can Expect Even More In Game 4

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetonkounmpo working his way back to 100 percent after returning from injury
Shandel Richardson|
Giannis Antetokounmpo's Return Was "Encouraging," So Miami Heat Can Expect Even More In Game 4
Giannis Antetokounmpo's Return Was "Encouraging," So Miami Heat Can Expect Even More In Game 4

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Miami HeatMilwaukee Bucks

The Miami Heat know what they saw Monday was just the appetizer. 

As Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo works his way back from a back injury, the Heat only expect him to improve the rest of the series. 

That's why it's so important to close it out soon as possible before the two-time MVP really gets going. 

"The average fan has no idea how difficult that is, to be out that many days," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "It's not like they practiced. I'm sure he got some workouts just to test his body but his physicality and his ability to get to the rim is otherworldly. That's keeping us up all night. We have great competitors and fearless guys and physical guys but he still has a way of breaking your defense down. That's why he is who he is." 

Antetokounmpo was sidelined two games after taking a hard fall in the first half of Game 1. He had 26 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds. The scary thing is he can play much better. 

"I thought Giannis was mostly phenomenal, 13 assists," Bucks coach Budenholzer said. "I thought he found guys and made the right play. He got to the basket and finished. I'm not sure what more Giannis could've done. I thought his passing and playmaking were fantastic ... For Giannis to come back and play the way he did was very encouraging." 

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Shandel Richardson covers the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat.

TWITTER: @ShandelRich

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Shandel Richardson
SHANDEL RICHARDSON

Shandel has covered the NBA since 2010, with previous stops at The Athletic and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He has covered six NBA Finals, one Super Bowl, the NCAA basketball tournament. He has also been a beat writer for the Miami Hurricanes and contributed on every major beat in South Florida since 2003, including the Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins. He can also be read in the Sportsbook Review for gambling coverage from around the NBA. A native of Bloomington, Illinois, Shandel attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He's also worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kansas City Star. TWITTER: @ShandelRich EMAIL: shandelrich@gmail.com You can subscribe to our YouTube channel here Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here

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