MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – NOVEMBER 07: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on against the Chicago Bulls in the first quarter during an Emirates NBA Cup game at Fiserv Forum on November 07, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

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Justin Grasso

By Justin Grasso

Contributing Sports Writer

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When the Milwaukee Bucks prepared for their matchup against the Charlotte Hornets earlier this week, they kept up with a common trend by having their star big man, Giannis Antetokounmpo, on the injury report.

While Antetokounmpo is a frequent presence on the Bucks’ report, he was surprisingly ruled out. Due to left knee patellar tendinopathy, Antetokounmpo was downgraded and missed his second game of the season on Wednesday. When the Bucks released their initial injury report on Thursday night, Antetokounmpo was upgraded to probable.

The Bucks officially made their final decision on the Greek Freak’s playing status for the NBA Cup group action, which is a rematch against the Hornets. He is expected to get the nod to play.

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This season, Antetokounmpo has been one of the top performers in the NBA. While his dominance hasn’t come as a surprise, Antetokounmpo is on pace to have a career-best effort on the offensive end so far.

Through his first 10 games of the season, Antetokounmpo has made 62 percent of his shots from the field, while scoring 33.4 points per game. He has averaged 30.4 points over the past two seasons, which marked his career high.

DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 10: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks controls the ball during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on November 10, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

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Along with his scoring, Antetokounmpo came down with 11.9 rebounds per game and produced 6.2 assists per night.

The Bucks have maintained a winning record through their first 12 games of the season. In the absence of Antetokounmpo, they are 1-1. An October 30 game against the Golden State Warriors ended with a 120-110 Bucks win. The other night, the Bucks dropped a game against the Hornets, losing 111-100.

When the Bucks have Antetokounmpo in the mix against the Hornets, the veteran star has managed to produce 21.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. He has faced the Hornets for a total of 38 games.

The Bucks and the Hornets are slated for an 8 PM ET tip on Friday night. So far, the Bucks are 1-0 in NBA Cup action, with a plus-16. The Hornets are down minus-18, with a 0-1 record. The Miami Heat lead the way with a 1-0 record at plus-18 in East Group C.

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