Bucks withstand Antetokounmpo's injury to beat Celtics 104-91. Teams combined for record-low 2 FTs

MILWAUKEE (AP) — On the night they finally snapped their four-game skid, the Milwaukee Bucks encountered an entirely different reason for worry.

Their two-time MVP is hurt.

Giannis Antetokounmpo strained his left calf late Tuesday in the third quarter of the Bucks' 104-91 victory over the Boston Celtics, who became the first team in NBA history to not shoot a free throw on a night the teams combined for a record-low two attempts.

Bucks coach Doc Rivers said after the game that Antetokounmpo was undergoing an MRI on his calf and also would have his Achilles tendon tested. Rivers was asked about his concern level.

“High, I would say that,” Rivers said. “He's Giannis. I think everyone probably feels the same way as I do right now. We're just going to hope for the best.”

Patrick Beverley had 20 points and 10 rebounds after the Bucks shook up their lineup by having the veteran guard start ahead of Malik Beasley, who came off the bench for the first time all season.

But that lineup change was overshadowed by Antetokounmpo's situation.

Antetokounmpo was heading up the court late in the third quarter after a Celtics basket when he grabbed his left calf and took a seat. He was helped off the floor, and cameras showed him heading to the locker room under his own power.

The Bucks said Antetokounmpo had a left soleus strain. The soleus is a muscle in the calf.

“Any time you see one of your teammates go down, it’s I think a real level of concern,” Bucks guard Damian Lillard said. “We spend a lot of time around each other, more than we would our families. I think that was the No. 1 thing. And then for it to be your best player, the most important part of our team, at this point in the season, it was like an, ‘Oh, (damn)’ moment, especially because there was nobody else around.”

Antetokounmpo had 15 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and he also attempted the game's only free throws. He went 1 of 2 from the line in the first quarter.

The previous record for fewest combined attempts in a game was 11.

“I didn't realize that until they told me just before I walked in,” Bucks center Brook Lopez said during his postgame availability. “It is weird, after the fact. I honestly didn't really catch it throughout the game. I didn't notice it.”

Milwaukee withstood Antetokounmpo's injury thanks to a blazing start that enabled the Bucks to take a 24-point lead in the first half.

“That was the first time where like the game wasn't going our way since I don't remember when, you know what I mean?” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “To me, that's a good opportunity, to play through that, find different ways to create runs, find different ways to just build stuff on either end of the floor. I thought it was a good situation for us to be in because we hadn't seen it in a while.”

Lopez and Bobby Portis scored 15 points apiece, and Lillard and Khris Middleton added 12 apiece. Portis also had 10 rebounds.

The Celtics, who already have clinched the NBA’s best regular-season record and No. 1 overall playoff seed, were playing without Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis. Horford was unavailable due to a sprained left big toe, and the Celtics are managing Porzingis’ workload after he missed five games last month with a sprained right hamstring.

Jayson Tatum scored 22 points to lead the Celtics. Jaylen Brown had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Jrue Holiday had 12 points.

Lopez went 4 of 5 on 3-point attempts in the opening six minutes to set the tone for a first quarter in which the Bucks shot 14 of 18 overall and 8 of 10 from 3-point range.

UP NEXT

Celtics: Host the New York Knicks on Thursday.

Bucks: Host the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers reacts to a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Malik Beasley knocks the ball from Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Boston Celtics' Payton Pritchard gets past Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown loses the ball in front of Milwaukee Bucks' Brook Lopez during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum tries to get past Milwaukee Bucks' Bobby Portis during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Boston Celtics' Jrue Holiday gets past Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

CINCINNATI (AP) — John Means pitched seven shutout innings in his season debut and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 on Saturday night.

Means (1-0) underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on April 27, 2022. He returned to make four starts last September before landing back on the IL with a left forearm strain to begin this season. Means made six rehab starts for Triple-A Norfolk before being reinstated on May 1.

The Orioles have won five of their past six games.

Like Cole Irvin the night before, Means kept Reds batters off balance with no walks and eight strikeouts.

A pair of solo home runs off Reds starter Andrew Abbott (1-4) gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead.

Jorge Mateo's second homer of the season came in the fourth. Adley Rutschman, who had three hits, clubbed his fifth home run in the next inning.

The homers accounted for two of the seven hits Abbott allowed in five innings. He struck out eight with no walks.

The Reds who hadn't scored a run in Great American Ball Park in 26 innings, rallied in the ninth.

Pinch hitter Jake Fraley led off with a single against Craig Kimbrel to snap a career-long 0-for-22 streak. Jonathan India walked. After Kimbrel struck out Elly De La Cruz, Spencer Steer singled home a run to make the score 2-1.

Yennier Cano replaced Kimbrel and walked Tyler Stephenson to load the bases. But Cano struck out Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Jeimer Candelario for his first save of the season.

UP NEXT

In Sunday's series finale, Orioles right-hander Dean Kremer (2-2, 4.19) will face Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (3-0, 1.88) who's unbeaten since coming off the IL on April 13.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Andrew Abbott throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher John Means throws in the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)