The Bucks’ Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo are both in danger of missing the Bulls game

The Milwaukee Bucks could be without their two best players for the fourth time in a row on Saturday evening.

According to the Bucks’ latest injury report (released via the club’s official X account), eight-time All-Star point guard Damian Lillard and eight-time All-NBA power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo could both miss the club’s game against the Chicago Bulls . Both are concerning for non-COVID-19 diseases.

Lillard has already missed four games, while Antetokounmo’s list of consecutive absences stands at three. They haven’t played together since the Bucks’ triumphant 97-81 NBA Cup win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Dec. 17.

On Monday against the Bulls, the Bucks survived well without their All-Stars. Milwaukee defeated Chicago 112-91, thanks in large part to role players Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez and former Bull Bobby Portis all stepping up. Middleton and Lopez scored 21 points each, while Ports (starting for Antetokounmpo) posted a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds.

Overall, Milwaukee is 2-1 in its last three games without Antetokounmpo and Lillard. Against a mediocre Bulls club that uses guards at both forward positions at an alarming rate, the giant Bucks enjoy a nice size advantage.

Chicago has not yet announced its own injury lists, according to the league’s most recent compilation of team injury reports. AJ Johnson and Chris Livingston are both out again with non-COVID-19 illnesses. Tyler Smith will also miss the game as he remains on duty with Milwaukee’s Oshkosh G League club, the Wisconsin Herd.

Middleton, a former three-time All-Star, had another great game on Thursday night in a narrow 111-105 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. He scored 21 points for the second straight game by making 8 of 13 shots from the field (3 of 6 from distance) and 2 of 3 shots from the foul line, while also dishing out five assists, grabbing five rebounds and a steal . On the year, Middleton is averaging 12.8 points on .444/.452/.800 shooting percentages, 5.5 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals per night in just 22.1 minutes per game.

The 6-foot-2 Texas A&M player finally appears to be getting into shape, eight games after returning from offseason bilateral ankle surgeries. He has been downgraded to likely playable as the Bucks continue to monitor his recovery.

Chicago has an arsenal of talented scorers led by former two-time All-Stars Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic. The club is one of the most prolific 3-point shooters in the league, ranking second in the NBA with its 44 triple attempts per night. But the Bulls play very little defense and lack size up front. They could be in for another long night against Milwaukee, with or without the Bucks’ best players.

At 16-13, the Bucks are currently the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference. The 13-18 Bulls, who have lost three straight, are the No. 10 seed.

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