The Milwaukee Bucks are trying to hold off the Toronto Raptors for the top spot in the East, and that job just got tougher because of a key injury.
Bucks forward Nikola Mirotic has a fracture in his left thumb, the team announced Wednesday. The Bucks did not give a timetable for his return, but sources confirmed to ESPN that Mirotic will miss about two to four weeks.
The Athletic first reported the injury.
The Bucks are also without starting point guard Malcolm Brogdon, who is expected to miss six to eight weeks with a minor plantar fascia tear in his right foot.
Milwaukee also was without Giannis Antetokounmpo for the second straight game Wednesday night against Cleveland because of a right ankle sprain the Bucks star suffered Sunday against the 76ers.
Antetokounmpo also sat Tuesday night when the Bucks beat the Los Angeles Lakers, who played without LeBron James and deprived fans of a matchup of two of the game's biggest names.
"He's making progress,'' coach Mike Budenholzer said of Antetokounmpo. "He just can't go tonight. It's us hopefully being smart and being somewhat cautious, but it's more than that. He can't play. We'll see how the next 24 to 48 hours go, and I'm hopeful he'll be in a good place as we move forward.''
The Bucks acquired Mirotic from the Pelicans at the trade deadline for Jason Smith, Stanley Johnson and four second-round picks.
After averaging 16.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game for New Orleans, Mirotic has averaged 11.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per contest for Milwaukee.
The Bucks are 10-4 in the games he has played for them. That has helped Milwaukee build a three-game lead in the Eastern Conference.
