Injuries to NBA stars Giannis, Ja dim start of postseason

Bucks coachMike Budenholzer expressed cautious optimism regarding the statusof Giannis Antetokounmpo after the two-time MVP left Milwaukee’sEastern Conference playoff opener with a bruised lower back.

Antetokounmpoisn’t the only prominent player already dealing with a health issueafter the first weekend of the playoffs. Injuries to some of theNBA’s top stars have dimmed the start of the postseason, with titlehopes possibly fading just as quickly depending on how bad they’rehurt.

Budenholzersaid Monday that Antetokounmpo underwent an MRI after the game thatrevealed “everything’s clean.”TheBucks lost 130-117 to the Miami Heaton Sunday and trailthe best-of-7 series 1-0 heading into Game 2 on Wednesdaynight.

“I would sayhe’s still sore, but I think progress,” Budenholzer said. “He’sgetting some treatment. I think we’ll just continue to monitor himfor the next day or two. We’re probably fortunate that (we have)two days between games. I think (we’re) still mostly positive,mostly optimistic, but we’ll see how he feels over the next day ortwo.”

Injuries overthe span of a couple hours Sunday also sidelined two-time All-StarJa Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies and the Miami Heat’s TylerHerro, keeping them from finishing their playoff openers.

Anthony Davisscared Los Angeles Lakers fans by grabbing at his right shoulderand saying he couldn’t move his arm. Luckily for the Lakers, Davisrebounded from a stinger and returned for the start of the thirdquarter of their128-112victory over the Grizzlies.

BothAntetokounmpo and Morant were hurt on drives to the basket whereeach landed awkwardly.

Antetokounmpocame down hard on his backside after being fouled by Miami’s KevinLove. The Bucks’ forward got up slowly with 4:13 left in the firstquarter. He picked up his second foul about 2 1/2 minutes later butplayed about 11 minutes for the Eastern Conference’s No. 1seed.

The Buckswent on to lose130-117to Miami.Herrobroke his right handlate in the second quarter,apparently while diving for a loose ball. The Heat disclosed theseverity of his injury at halftime.

Miami coachErik Spoelstra said Herro,seen with a cast on hishand after the game,won’t play Game 2 on Wednesday nightand the Heat will figure out what to do next.

“I got thesame diagnosis that you all heard,” Spoelstra said.

Morant cameinto Sunday’s first-round Western Conference series with his righthand already bandaged after being hurt in a win that clinched theNo. 2 seed for the Grizzlies.

Then he droveto the basket against the 6-foot-10 Davis with 5:48 left, withMemphis trailing the Lakers 105-101. His right hand appeared tobend the wrong direction as he hit the court. Morant writhed inpain, then ran toward the Grizzlies’ bench letting out a yell nearmidcourt before sprinting to the locker room.

Memphis coachTaylor Jenkins said X-rays were negative and the Grizzlies will dofurther testing taking this injury one day at a time.

“I’m not themedical expert,” Jenkins said.

Morant saidhe’s doubtful for Game 2 on Wednesday night with Memphis down 0-1following a128-112loss.

“Tough man,especially with everything I’ve been through pretty much thisseason,” said Morant, who wassuspendedby the NBA for eight games in Marchafter livestreaminghimself holding a gun at a Denver-area strip club.

The guard whoset the Grizzlies’ single season scoring record averaging 26.2points a game wants to play. Memphis already is without centerSteven Adams because of aninjuredkneeand reserve big manBrandonClarke tore an Achilles tendonin March.

“Anotherincident where that’s pretty much in jeopardy,” said Morant, whomissed the final three games ofMemphis’semifinals loss to eventual champ Golden Statewith aninjured knee.

Pain leveland how effective he can be will decide if Morant can play.

“I feel likeI can go out there and be somewhat myself, I’ll be playing,” Morantsaid. “If not, I don’t want to do anything to hurt the team.”

The Clipperssurvived their opener bybeatingNo. 4 seed Phoenix 115-110without eight-time All-Starguard Paul George, who’s been sidelined bysprainedright kneesince late March.

Lakers coachDarvin Ham may have been the happiest coach after sending Davis tothe locker room with 1:15 left in the second quarter to make surethe medical team started working on the eight-time All-Starimmediately.

“Just happyhe’s OK,” Ham said.