Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo ruled out with lower back bruise

MILWAUKEE(AP) — Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo landed hard onhis backside after a drive to the basket on Sunday and was ruledout of his team’s Eastern Conference playoff series opener againstthe Miami Heat with a bruised lower back.

Antetokounmpogot up slowly but remained in the game to take his free throwsafter getting fouled by Miami’s Kevin Love with 4:13 left in thefirst quarter. The two-time MVP stayed in the game until picking uphis second foul about 2 1/2 minutes later.

After gettingremoved from the game, Antetokounmpo went to the locker room. Hereturned with 9:56 left in the second quarter but exited again with8:33 left in the half.

Antetokounmpohad six points and three rebounds in 11 minutes for the top-seededBucks.

The Heat hadtheir own injury concerns. Miami’s Tyler Herro broke his right handlate in the second quarter.