Milwaukee Bucks injury report: What is Giannis Antetokounmpo’s status tonight vs. Hornets?
Giannis Antetokounmpo speaks on ‘must win’ heading to game in Dallas
Giannis Antetokounmpo speaks on ‘must win’ upcoming game in Dallas and Rivers, Kuzma react to the Bucks’ loss to Rockets on Nov. 9, 2025.
CHARLOTTE – The Milwaukee Bucks have, to date, fulfilled the competitive mandate of their on-court leader in Giannis Antetokounmpo about not losing two games in a row – but they have yet to stack wins together in the first part of the season.
Just twice have the Bucks won two consecutive games, and they look to do so for a third time tonight in Charlotte when they face the Hornets at the Spectrum Center at 6 p.m. CT.
The last time the Bucks won two straight was Oct. 28-30 against New York and Golden State.
2025-2026 Bucks schedule: Dates, times; TV channels
Is Giannis playing?
No. He was ruled out after the team went through shootaround in Charlotte on Nov. 11. He began the day listed as questionable with pain in his left patellar in his knee. Antetokounmpo just played back-to-back games on Nov. 9-10 and was downgraded to questionable before the team arrived in Charlotte.
“The numbers. This is, what are we — five games in seven days — it’s just a lot, you know?” Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said. “We looked at this before it all started and this was the game, if we were going to sit him, just because it was right in the middle and it gives him (three) days off.”
Off that, Rivers said the expectation is Antetokounmpo will be ready to play Charlotte on Friday at Fiserv Forum in an NBA Cup pool play game. The Bucks’ star has been managing pain in that knee since injuring it vs. New York on Oct. 28.
Bucks probable starters
- Guards: AJ Green, Gary Trent Jr., Ryan Rollins
- Forward: Kyle Kuzma
- Center: Myles Turner
Kon Knueppel has started rookie season well for Hornets
Milwaukee native and Wisconsin Lutheran High School alumnus Kon Knueppel has gotten off to a fine start in his rookie season, even if it’s not catching the national attention like some others from a strong rookie class.
The No. 4 pick out of Duke, Knueppel is playing 32 minutes per game for the Hornets and shooting 40% from behind the 3-point line. The 6-foot, 7-inch wing is averaging an impressive 16.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists. He’s been one of the healthier players for Charlotte as well, appearing in 10 games (nine starts).
“We showed it on film (Nov. 12) — a lot of times he rolls on picks, he’s a roller,” Rivers said. “He gets theball on the nail and his job is really to disperse the ball, not even to shoot the ball. He just knows how to get open. He knows where the open spots are. Very, very, very clever player.”
LaMelo Ball is out vs. Bucks
Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball is out for the game vs. the Bucks on Nov. 12 with an impingement in his right ankle. It will be the fifth straight game Ball has missed with the injury.
The 24-year-old has had two surgeries on that ankle already, once for a fracture in 2023 and one to relieve an impingement in March 2025.
In the six games he did play, Ball averaged 23.3 points, 9.8 assists and 7.8 rebounds.
What time is the Bucks game?
The game in Charlotte is scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m. CT.
What channel is the Bucks game on?
The game will be broadcast locally on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin with Lisa Byington, Marques Johnson and Melanie Ricks on the call.
Bucks vs. Hornets odds, over/under
Milwaukee is a 5.5-point favorite over Charlotte, and the over/under is set at 231.5 points per BetMGM.
