Rivers expects Giannis (calf) out close to 4 weeks

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers said he expects star Giannis Antetokounmpo to require closer to four weeks to recover from the strained right calf he sustained on Wednesday night.

Antetokounmpo's initial diagnosis projected that he could be sidelined for 2-4 weeks, but Rivers cautioned against rushing Antetokounmpo back to the court.

"I feel like we should learn is with calves -- make sure they're healthy," Rivers said before Friday's game against the Sixers. "So that may take longer than we want. That even may make Giannis frustrated over it, but we just got to try to get that right."

About three minutes into Wednesday's game against the Detroit Pistons, Antetokounmpo fell to the floor trying to get back on defense after what Rivers believed was a bump driving to the basket. He remained on the ground until he had to be helped off the court by his teammates to walk gingerly off the floor.

Rivers pointed out how the Bucks have only seven games in the next three weeks thanks to a lighter schedule after failing to qualify for the NBA Cup. And he added that he had a conversation with Antetokounmpo on Thursday after the results of the MRI and said the two-time MVP was in good spirits.

"We talked a long time [Thursday]," Rivers said. "When Giannis gets injured, he'll give you his own date. You literally just, you hear it but you don't hear it because to him it's always, I'll be back in a week or I'll be back sooner."

Antetokounmpo, who turns 31 on Saturday, is off to one of the strongest starts of his career, averaging 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists on 64% in 17 games this season. Antetokounmpo suffered a similar injury before the 2024 playoffs, when he strained his calf with three games remaining in the regular season and then did not play in Milwaukee's first round exit that season, missing about three weeks.

It's the second stretch the Bucks have had to endure without Antetokounmpo this season. He missed four straight games last month with a left adductor injury; the team went 0-4 during that span.

"I do think, and we'll see, I think we're better equipped for it, but it's going to be tough," Rivers said before Friday's game, pointing to healthy starting point guard Kevin Porter Jr. as one reason for his optimism with Antetokounmpo sidelined.

"You don't replace those points, those rebounds and more importantly his downhill attacks that create threes. We're the number one three-point shooting team in the league and Giannis has a lot to do with getting us those shots. Now we're going to have to try to manufacture those shots without him. That's going to be more difficult."