Bucks’ Antetokounmpo ruled out vs. Celtics

BOSTON — Bucks two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss Wednesday’s game against the Boston Celtics with a left hamstring injury, sources confirmed to ESPN.

Antetokounmpo was not with the team at shootaround Wednesday morning and did not travel to Boston. He will rejoin the team back in Milwaukee on Thursday, where the Bucks are playing the second game of a back-to-back against the Brooklyn Nets.

Antetokounmpo is having one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 30.8 points and 11.2 rebounds while averaging career highs in both assists (6.4) and field goal percentage (61.6%).

This will be the second consecutive game Antetokounmpo sits with the injury and just the fifth game he has missed this season.

However, the Bucks have had some success without Antetokounmpo in the lineup, winning three of the four games, including a 140-129 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. In the four games where Antetokounmpo sits, Damian Lillard is averaging 31.5 points per game, up from 23.9 points in games alongside Antetokounmpo this season.

News of Antetokounmpo’s expected absence was first reported by The Athletic.