Giannis shrugs off injured ankle: 'I don't like missing games'

The Milwaukee Bucks continue to be struck by injuries, as superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo tries to play through his own ankle ailment with many of his teammates already on the shelf.

"Usually when you sprain your ankle, you tweak your ankle, you stay out for two, three, four games," Antetokounmpo said after re-aggravating his ankle during the Bucks' 128-118 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday, according to ESPN's Malika Andrews. "But I don't like missing games, so I have to work through it while playing and try to get my strength with our practices."

The Bucks are already preparing to enter the playoffs without Pau Gasol (ankle), Malcolm Brogdon (foot tear), Nikola Mirotic (thumb), and Donte DiVincenzo (heel).

Antetokounmpo said sitting isn't his preferred option with only six games remaining in the regular season, but the MVP front-runner believes head coach Mike Budenholzer and the rest of the Bucks' staff have intelligently handled his current ankle issues.

"I think the coaching staff, Bud and the medical staff have done a great job knowing when to pull me away from a game," he said. "I trust them. It doesn't matter if I am going through pain or I don't feel good. I am always prepared to play the game. There are going to be some days I am going to play with pain. There's going to be a lot of days I'm stubborn and saying I want to go play, but coach Bud is like, 'No, you are not going to play.'"

Despite the recent slew of injuries, the Bucks (57-19) are just two wins away from securing the NBA's best record and a chance at home-court advantage for the entire postseason.