Bucks, Nets Wrap Up Season With Giannis Sidelined

Milwaukee and Brooklyn have been eliminated from playoff contention

Apr. 10, 2026 at 3:27pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game between the Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in the teams' vibrant colors.The Bucks and Nets face off in the final home game of the season, with Giannis Antetokounmpo's injury dispute casting a cloud over the matchup.Today in Milwaukee

The Milwaukee Bucks will host the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night in the final home game of the season for the Bucks. However, Giannis Antetokounmpo has been ruled out due to a left knee injury, continuing a dispute between the Bucks star and the team over his playing status. Both teams have been eliminated from the playoffs, with the Nets coming off a blowout loss to the Pacers on Thursday.

Why it matters

The ongoing dispute between Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks over his injury status has been a major storyline this season, raising questions about the team's handling of the superstar's health. This game will be a missed opportunity for Giannis to potentially play in front of the Milwaukee fans one last time this season.

The details

The Bucks (31-49) are coming off a 137-111 loss to the Pistons, while the Nets (20-60) lost 123-94 to the Pacers on Thursday. Milwaukee will be without several key players besides Giannis, including Kevin Porter Jr., Bobby Portis, Myles Turner, and Kyle Kuzma. Brooklyn was also missing a number of players due to injury. The Nets have a chance to win the season series against the Bucks for the second straight year with a victory on Friday.

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo has missed 13 consecutive games due to his left knee injury.
  • The Bucks and Nets played earlier this week, with the Nets winning 96-90.

The players

Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Milwaukee Bucks superstar who has been sidelined with a left knee injury, sparking a dispute with the team over his playing status.

Jon Horst

The general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks, who has defended the team's handling of Antetokounmpo's injury.

Doc Rivers

The head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Jordi Fernandez

The head coach of the Brooklyn Nets.

E.J. Liddell

A player for the Brooklyn Nets who led the team with 26 points in their loss to the Pacers.

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What they’re saying

“You have to make tough decisions in tough circumstances, and the lens, again, is to make the best professional judgment that we can that's best for him and us regarding his health.”

— Jon Horst, General Manager, Milwaukee Bucks

“The effort and the purpose was there, we took the right shots, they just didn't go in. I was happy with the shots that I saw.”

— Jordi Fernandez, Head Coach, Brooklyn Nets

What’s next

The NBA continues to investigate the dispute between Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks over his injury status.

The takeaway

This game highlights the frustrations of a lost season for both the Bucks and Nets, with Giannis' ongoing injury saga casting a shadow over Milwaukee's final home game. The dispute over his playing status raises broader questions about player-team dynamics and the handling of star players' health.