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Bucks Championship Odds Fade to +340 After Giannis Antetokounmpo Suffers Knee Injury in Game 4 Loss to Hawks

John Perrotto

by John Perrotto in NBA Basketball

Updated Jun 30, 2021 · 8:17 AM PDT

Giannis Antetokounmpo
Is Giannis' season over? (Photo by JB Autissier/Panoramic/Icon Sportswire)
  • Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo sustained a hyperextended left knee Tuesday in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Atlanta Hawks
  • The Bucks’ odds to win the NBA championship have since fallen from -114 to +350
  • A look at the Bucks’ situation and their chances of winning without the two-time NBA MVP can be found below with wagering advice

Not long after an injured Giannis Antetokounmpo was helped off the floor Tuesday night, the Milwaukee Bucks lost their status as favorites to win the NBA championship.

The two-time NBA MVP left Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals after hyperextending his left knee with 7:14 remaining in the third quarter and did not return. The Bucks wound losing 110-88 as the Atlanta Hawks evened the best-of-seven series at 2-2.

The Bucks were -114 favorites in the NBA Championship odds going into the game. However, those odds faded to +340 not long after the game ended.

2021 NBA Championship Odds

Team Odds at FanDuel
Phoenix Suns -130
Milwaukee Bucks +340
Atlanta Hawks +600
Los Angeles Clippers +650

Odds as of June 30th

2024 NBA Eastern and Western Conference Odds Tracker
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Scary Moment

Antetokounmpo was defending a dunk by the Hawks’ Clint Capela when his left knee buckled. He fell to the floor in pain, clutching his knee.

Antetokounmpo remained down for several minutes before rising and slowly walking to the locker room. Antetokounmpo was helped by his brother, Bucks reserve Thanasis Antetokounmpo, and a staff member as he left the court.

Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said after the game that the team would have more information Wednesday. However, things certainly did not look good.

Antetokounmpo returns to the bench briefly but then headed back to the locker room after the Hawks blew the game open.

Giannis is the Man

Antetokounmpo’s importance to the Bucks is critical. In addition to winning MVP in 2019 and 2020, he has been an all-NBA selection each of the last five seasons and presents major matchup problems for opponents with his ability to play all five positions.

In the regular season, Antetokounmpo led the Bucks in scoring with an average of 28.1 points a game. He also topped the team in rebounding at 11.0, was second in assists at 5.9 and was again one of the top defenders in the league.

Prior to Tuesday, Antetokounmpo was averaging 29.2 points, 13.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 14 playoff games this year. He finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists in 24:04 in Game 4.

Antetokounmpo missed 11 games during the regular season and the Bucks went 6-5. They were 40-21 when he was in the lineup.

Can Bucks Still Win It All?

The Bucks have other stars on their roster.

Two-time All-Star Khris Middleton averaged 20.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.4 assists during the regular season. Jrue Holiday made a big impact in his first season in Milwaukee as he averaged 17.7 points and 6.1 rebounds in the regular season.

And there is at least a path for the Bucks to reach the Finals without Antetokounmpo. That would be if the Hawks also continue to be without their best player, Trae Young, who sat out Tuesday night with a bone bruise in his right ankle.

However, it is hard to imagine the Bucks winning it all without their best player. Thus, it would be wise to stay away from betting them unless Antetokounmpo makes what would seemingly be a miraculous recovery.

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