Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard both out against bulls with illness

CHICAGO – Both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard will miss Monday’s game against the Chicago Bulls with a non-COVID illness, the team announced.

Several of the Bucks players and staff have been out of breath after the team’s victory in the NBA Cup last week. A pair of the team’s younger players, guard AJ Johnson and forward Chris Livingston, will also miss Monday’s game.

Lillard has not played since the team’s win in Las Vegas on Tuesday, sitting out two games over the weekend. He was also listed as questionable with a right calf strain on Monday night’s injury report. Lillard said he felt discomfort in his calf against the Atlanta Hawks during the NBA Cup semifinals but played through it in the championship game.

Antetokounmpo missed Saturday’s game, the second night of a back-to-back, but came into Monday listed as questionable with back spasms. However, he was on the floor with the team during the shooting round on Monday morning.

Khris Middleton (ankle) will be available for Milwaukee to play in his third straight game since missing the NBA Cup championship. The Bucks picked up a 112-101 victory over the Washington Wizards on Saturday without Antetokounmpo and Lillard.