Giannis sets assist record with Bucks, but gets injured

CHICAGO (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo spent a few seconds lying on the ground. He grimaced then left. A sprained wrist at the start of the match ended his evening prematurely.

But not before creating another franchise brand.

Antetokounmpo became the Bucks’ leading passer before suffering the injury that forced him out of Thursday’s game, in which Milwaukee beat the Chicago Bulls 112-100 for their twelfth victory.

Brook Lopez scored a season-high 33 points. Jevon Carter added 22, while Jrue Holiday had 15, along with nine assists.

The Bucks have never faced a serious threat. However, the injury suffered by Antetokounmpo early in the second quarter clouded the game for a team that looked to have good prospects ahead of the All-Star break.

Coach Mike Budenholzer said early reports were “encouraging” and the X-rays had come back “clean”.

“We will see how he feels tomorrow. We will see how it is in the next few days and we will continue to assess it,” he commented.

The quarterback was asked if Antetokounmpo would travel to Salt Lake City for the All-Star Game on Sunday.

“I have no idea,” he replied.

The Greek star, twice named NBA Most Valuable Player, suffered an injury trying to block a layup from Chicago guard Coby White, which had slipped past him.

Due to the inertia of the game, Antetokounmpo fell and put his right hand on the padded post that supports the board. This is apparently where he sprained himself.

He put his hand on his wrist, spoke with a kinesiologist and went to the locker room.

“He’s a guy who attacks the basket all the time,” Budenholzer said. ” He is not scared. He takes a lot of falls, so you learn to expect him to get back up. And that’s what we expect now.”

Antetokounmpo finished with two points and three assists, which helped him reach 3,274 over 10 seasons, breaking the record set by Paul Pressey of 3,272 from 1982 to 1990.

Additionally, Antetokounmpo grabbed seven rebounds.