Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts after suffering an injury during the first half an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kylie Bridenhagen)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Kevin Porter Jr. scored 26 points, Ryan Rollins added 22 and the Milwaukee Bucks overcame the loss of Giannis Antetokounmpo to an injury three minutes into the game to beat the Detroit Pistons 113-109 on Wednesday night.

AJ Green had 19 points and Jericho Sims finished with a career-high 15 points and tied a career best with 14 rebounds as Milwaukee won for just the second time in 10 games.

Antetokounmpo left with what the Bucks said was a right calf strain, not long after coach Doc Rivers said before the game there have been no talks between team officials and the two-time MVP about a potential exit from Milwaukee.

Tobias Harris had 20 points, Cade Cunningham 17 and Jaden Ivey 15 for the Pistons, who had won 15 of 17.

Sims’ three-point play with 1:34 remaining gave the Bucks a 109-108 lead. A pair of free throws by Rollins with 13 seconds left pushed the Bucks’ lead to three. After a Detroit miss, Green sealed the win with a pair of free throws.

The Pistons led 27-9 in the first quarter. The Bucks closed the gap to 52-49 at the half with Porter tallying 16 first-half points.

The Bucks took their first lead at 56-55 early in the third quarter on Myles Turner’s 3-pointer but Detroit held an 85-78 lead at the end of the period.

Late in the third, Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis and Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart had a heated exchange after Portis fouled Stewart in the lane. A double technical foul was called, leading to the ejection of Stewart, who was whistled for a technical earlier in the quarter.

Up next

Pistons: Host Portland on Friday night.

Bucks: Host Philadelphia on Friday night.

Antetokounmpo undergoes MRI

Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers said after the Bucks’ 113-109 victory that Antetokounmpo was undergoing an MRI. Rivers added that he believed the Bucks had ruled out the possibility that Antetokounmpo had injured his Achilles tendon on the play.

The two-time MVP had just assisted on AJ Green’ layup less than three minutes into the game when he headed back up the court and slipped in the painted area. Antetokounmpo went down, clutched his right leg and eventually was helped up before walking gingerly to the locker room.

Rivers said he believed Antetokounmpo’s injury may have stemmed from contact with a Detroit defender while driving along the baseline before passing to Green.

“I thought the bump was what made him lose his balance,” Rivers said.

The Bucks announced later in the first quarter that Antetokounmpo had a strained calf and would miss the rest of the game. Antetokounmpo had missed the Bucks’ 2024 first-round playoff loss to the Indiana Pacers due to a left calf strain.

Antetokounmpo was playing his fourth game since returning from a left adductor strain that caused him to miss four games. The two-time MVP entered Wednesday ranked fourth in the NBA in scoring (30.6), fifth in rebounding (10.7) and 17th in assists (6.4).

The injury came after ESPN reported earlier in the day that Antetokounmpo and his agent, Alex Saratsis, had started conversations with the Bucks about the superstar’s future and whether he’s best suited to stay in Milwaukee or play elsewhere.

Rivers disputed that report during his pregame availability by saying “there’s been no conversations” in that regard.

“Giannis has never asked to be traded — ever,” Rivers said. “I can’t make that more clear.”