Giannis misses Game 3 loss to Heat with back issue

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo didn't play Saturday in his team's 121-99 Game 3 loss to the Miami Heat due to a lower back contusion.

It was the second straight game the forward has missed in the first-round series, which the Heat now lead 2-1.

In his place, the Bucks started forward Bobby Portis, who also stepped in for Antetokounmpo in Game 2. Portis, 28, scored nine points and grabbed 10 rebounds but fouled out in 23 minutes in the loss. He fared better in Game 2 when he registered 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting (3-of-4 from three) to complement 15 rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and one steal in Milwaukee's win.

Antetokounmpo has been battling the injury since taking a hard fall in the first quarter of Game 1. The 28-year-old tried stretching for a layup over Heat veteran Kevin Love, who was attempting to take a charge, but fell awkwardly on his back. He returned for a brief stint in the second quarter but hasn't played since.

A subsequent MRI returned clean, though the two-time MVP is also reportedly dealing with a separate ligament concern in his wrist.

Antetokounmpo scored six points with three rebounds before leaving Game 1. He averaged 31.1 points - fifth in the NBA - along with 11.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 63 regular-season games this year.