Giannis Antetokounmpo expected to play on Christmas

Adrian Wojnarowski: Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to make his return to the lineup vs. Boston today (2:30 PM ET, ABC), sources tell ESPN. After 10 days in protocols, the two-time MVP had a strong workout on Friday and — barring a setback — is expected to be available.
Source: Twitter @wojespn

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Mike Prada @MikePradaNBA
Much more of Jrue in the dunker spot this half, which is helping to break down Boston’s wall on Giannis. – 4:02 PM Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
Giannis Antetokounmpo had scored nine straight points for the #Bucks, followed by back-to-back buckets by Jrue Holiday and they now trail the #Celtics 71-61. – 4:01 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
giannis really does have a 20 foot eurostep it never is not insane – 4:01 PM Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Giannis Antetokounmpo coming to life here in the second half. He has already scored nine points in the first two minutes of the third quarter. – 4:01 PM Mike Prada @MikePradaNBA
You see how Giannis drags his back foot on both of those long steps? That’s called a toe drag, and it’s the main reason so many players like him can take such long strides. It balances them. – 4:00 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Celtics lead 62-47 at the half
Brown – 19 points
Tatum – 13 points
Pritchard – 11 points
Celtics – 10-23 threes
Celtics – 16 assists on 21 baskets
Middleton – 11 points
Cousins – 8 points
Giannis – 7 points
Portis – 7 points
Bucks – 5-17 threes
Bucks – 7 turnovers – 3:42 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Three fouls on Giannis now. That was a good delayed cut by Hernangomez and a nice find by Brown. – 3:25 PM Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
Third foul for Giannis Antetokounmpo with 5:55 to go in the first half. #Bucks trail 46-34. – 3:25 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Celtics lead 35-22 after one
Brown – 14 points
Langford – 5 points, 2 steals
Pritchard – 5 points
Celtics – 57.7% shooting
Celtics – 10 assists on 15 baskets
Giannis – 7 points
Middleton – 5 points
Cousins – 4 points
Bucks – 1-7 three-pointers
Bucks – 4 turnovers – 3:10 PM Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
Couple of buckets by Giannis Antetokounmpo in the last 45 seconds got the #Bucks to within 35-22 at the end of the first quarter. – 3:09 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Some Bucks fan woke up from a multi-year coma this morning and is very confused as to why Jabari Parker is guarding Giannis Antetokounmpo. – 3:04 PM Jamal Collier @JamalCollier
The Bucks starting lineup today:
Jrue Holiday
Grayson Allen
Khris Middleton
Giannis Antetokounmpo
DeMarcus Cousins
Per @ESPNStatsInfo, this lineup has played five minutes together this season entering play. – 2:35 PM Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
Celtics at Bucks – FiServ Forum – December 25, 2021 – Starters
Boston – Smart, Langford, Brown, Tatum, R. Williams
Milwaukee – Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, Grayson Allen, Giannis Antetokounmpo, DeMarcus Cousins pic.twitter.com/PaHFwzMSSc – 2:05 PM Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
DeMarcus Cousins will start his fifth straight game — but first alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo — for the #Bucks this afternoon. – 2:04 PM Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Bucks listed starters this afternoon against the Celtics:
Jrue Holiday
Grayson Allen
Khris Middleton
Giannis Antetokounmpo
DeMarcus Cousins – 2:03 PM Jamal Collier @JamalCollier
Giannis Antetokounmpo will play today for the Bucks, but Bobby Portis and Donte DiVincenzo have also cleared protocols.
Brook Lopez (back) is the only player on the Bucks injury report – 1:16 PM Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer confirms that they expect Giannis Antetokounmpo, Donte DiVincenzo, and Bobby Portis to play today. – 12:49 PM Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
Giannis Antetokounmpo is back for the #Bucks pic.twitter.com/JdH4JvPO49 – 12:25 PM Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
And there is Giannis Antetokounmpo out on the floor for his pregame warmup. pic.twitter.com/wBs9McDme5 – 12:25 PM Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to make his return to the lineup vs. Boston today (2:30 PM ET, ABC), sources tell ESPN. After 10 days in protocols, the two-time MVP had a strong workout on Friday and — barring a setback — is expected to be available. – 9:48 AM Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Antetokounmpo not on injury report after COVID absence, could play for Bucks on Christmas nba.nbcsports.com/2021/12/25/ant… – 8:01 AM The Vertical @YahooSportsNBA
Giannis Antetokounmpo clears COVID protocols ahead of the Bucks’ Christmas Day matchup against the Celtics.
https://t.co/qCBKzggUJr pic.twitter.com/D4BgEvUkTE – 8:08 PM Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
Donte DiVincenzo (protocols) upgraded to questionable for tomorrow meaning he may finally make his season debut, while Giannis Antetokounmpo (as first reported by ESPN) and Bobby Portis are both no longer listed on the protocols list. – 4:15 PM Zach Lowe @ZachLowe_NBA
Giannis Antetokounmpo has been cleared from health and safety protocols; he’s expected to get on the court today and decide tomorrow whether to play on Christmas against the Boston Celtics, sources tell @Adrian Wojnarowski and me. – 1:05 PM NBA Math @NBA_Math
RPR MVP Predictor, determined by Rolling Player Ratings and team success:
1. Nikola Jokic: 14.96
2. Stephen Curry: 14.52
3. Kevin Durant: 14.09
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo: 13.79
5. Trae Young: 13.16
6. Donovan Mitchell: 12.73
7. Jarrett Allen: 12.37
8. DeMar DeRozan: 12.0 pic.twitter.com/44KezXcz9h – 11:50 AM Justin Kubatko @jkubatko
Nikola Jokic last night:
29 PTS
21 REB
5 AST
It’s the fourth time Jokic has tallied at least 25p/20r/5a, one more such game than all @Denver Nuggets combined since the franchise joined the NBA in 1976.
The only active player with more such games is Giannis Antetokounmpo (5). pic.twitter.com/12GkjhcGw5 – 10:21 AM

More on this storyline

Bill Oram: Lakers say Avery Bradley and Malik Monk have cleared protocols and will be available tonight vs Brooklyn. -via Twitter @billoram / December 25, 2021 Tim Bontemps: The Celtics say Dennis Schroder has entered the health and safety protocols. -via Twitter @TimBontemps / December 25, 2021 Shams Charania: Three more Trail Blazers (five total) have entered COVID-19 health and safety protocols – Robert Covington, Ben McLemore and Keljin Blevins, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium . -via Twitter @ShamsCharania / December 25, 2021