Can Chicago Bulls take advantage of a Giannis-less Bucks team?

Although it’s not confirmed as of yet, the Chicago Bulls could very well be taking on a divisional foe in the Milwaukee Bucks on the night of April 30 that will be without their superstar. In a surprising loss for the Bucks to the team at the bottom of the Western Conference standings at the moment, the Houston Rockets on April 29, reigning back-to-back NBA MVP and superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo hurt his ankle and had to head back to the locker room in the first half.

Giannis would not return for the Bucks down the stretch, and his team managed to get upset by the Rockets by the final score of 143-136. It was just the third win in the month of April thus far for the Rockets, who are very much struggling (unsurprisingly I might add) in the post-James Harden-era.

More specifically in this loss to the Rockets, Giannis had to head back to the locker room in the first quarter after spraining his right ankle, and he would not return to the game. All that Giannis was able to muster before exiting this game with a sprained ankle was one point in less than one minute out on the floor.

Could the Chicago Bulls face Milwaukee without Giannis Antetokounmpo?

The major question surrounding the Bulls meeting with the Bucks on April 30 is whether Giannis will be suiting up for Cream City. We should note that it could be in the Bucks’ best interests to rest Giannis against the Bulls and make sure he’s ready to take on the Brooklyn Nets next week.

On May 2 and 4, the Bucks will face the Nets, with both meetings coming in Milwaukee. It might be key for the Bucks, who are jostling for a top seed in the Eastern Conference standings, to rest Giannis up against a Bulls team that is struggling since the trade deadline.

This is also not the first time that Giannis dealt with an ankle injury in his career.

If Giannis is in fact out for the Bucks against the Bulls on April 30, it would at least be an opportunity for Donovan to pull off the upset on the road. The Bulls need to start finding more success in the win column if they want any sliver of hope to even get a spot in the play-in tournament next month.

The Bulls are coming off a tough loss themselves from April 28, when they fell short against their former head coach Tom Thibodeau and the New York Knicks on the road by a double-digit margin. They’ll now carry a record of 26-36 into this key meeting with the divisional foe Bucks on the final day of April.

Meanwhile, the Bucks will carry a record of 38-24 into this meeting with the Bulls at the United Center in Chicago coming off their loss to the Rockets. Tip-off time between the Bulls and Bucks on April 30 is set for 8 p.m. CT.