MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Bucks were without all five regulars on Friday night as they hosted the Charlotte Hornets one night after losing in Dallas.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, twice vice president, gave up the fourth game in a row with a painful left knee. He missed the sixth game in the last 11.
Jrue Holiday (bruised left knee), Donte DiVincenzo (bruised right hip), Brook Lopez (back pain), Khris Middleton (right knee pain) and backup striker PJ Tucker (strained left calf) were also declared excluded. Middleton and Lopez were listed as questionable in Friday afternoon’s injury report, but Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said in advance that neither of them would play.
Charlotte is also not close to full power.
The Hornets announced Saturday that Gordon Hayward will miss at least a month with his right foot sprained. LaMelo Ball, the newcomer’s candidate, has not played since March 20 due to a fractured right wrist. Malik Monk came out last week with a sprained right ankle.
The Bucks return from a six-game trip in which they went 3-3. They ended the trip losing 116-101 in Dallas on Thursday.
This will be the second game in a row at home, in which the Bucks have missed most of the key players.
The Bucks have not played at home since a 102-96 loss to the New York Knicks on March 27. Antetokounmpo, Middleton, Holiday, DiVincenzo and sixth man Bobby Portis missed this game.