Milwaukee Bucks' Antetokounmpo to miss next two games to manage knee soreness

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Milwaukee Bucks' All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss the next two games to manage soreness in his right knee, the club said on Saturday.

Antetokounmpo will skip Saturday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers and Monday's home game against the Phoenix Suns and have eight days without playing in a game, using that time to receive treatment.

Antetokounmpo has missed two games this season with right knee soreness. He plans to return to game action on Jan. 26 when the Bucks face the Brooklyn Nets.

In his fifth season, Antetokounmpo ranks first in the NBA in minutes played and second in scoring at 28.2 points per game while averaging career-highs in rebounds per game on 10.1 and field goal percentage on 54.6%. He's one of only five players in the league this season averaging at least 20.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, and is on pace to join Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only players in Bucks history to average at least 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists for a season.

On Thursday, Antetokounmpo was named a starter for the 2018 NBA All-Star Game and is the first Buck since Marques Johnson (1979-80) to be named a starter in two straight All-Star Games. The 67th NBA All-Star Game will take place at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 18.