The Milwaukee Bucks will face the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night without their franchise star. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been ruled out with a right calf strain, an absence that lands at a delicate moment for a team already fighting to stay in the Eastern Conference race. The official NBA injury report at 3:30 p.m. ET listed Antetokounmpo as Out — Right Calf; Strain, confirming the worst-case pregame scenario for Milwaukee fans.

This is not a one-off tweak. It is the latest chapter in a season shaped by starts and stops, scans, and setbacks. It is also the kind of absence that forces big decisions, with the Feb. 5 trade deadline approaching and the Bucks dropping five of their last six games.

What the injury report says today

Antetokounmpo’s status for Tuesday became clear in the afternoon when the league’s official report made it public: he will not play against the 76ers. He injured the calf during the Jan. 24 loss to Denver. An MRI confirmed the strain. In the first half of that game he had his right leg bandaged, and later, he described the moment it worsened.

“I felt like I couldn’t explode… At the end, when it popped, I had to get out. I couldn’t walk,” Giannis said after the game. He also promised, “I’m gonna work my butt off to come back.”

For now, the team is firm on one point: there is no timetable. Head voices around the team echoed the same line — there’s really no timetable, and there is no thought of shutting him down for the year.

“No Giannis, no timetable — is this the turning point or the breaking point?”

How we got here: Denver, the “pop,” and an MRI

The strain happened Jan. 24 in Denver. Antetokounmpo tried to push through early, but he said his burst was gone. When he felt a pop, he headed to the bench and did not return. An MRI confirmed the diagnosis soon after. It is the second time this season his right calf has sidelined him.

From Dec. 5–26, he missed eight games with the same calf injury. Now the same muscle group has flared again. The expectation around the league is a 4–6 week recovery window, which points to a possible return in late February or early March. But the Bucks are not committing to dates, and Antetokounmpo has said there is no plan to shut it down for the season.

A worrying pattern: recurring calf issues

This is not an isolated incident. In the past two years, Antetokounmpo has dealt with multiple calf problems. He had a left calf issue in the 2024 playoffs and again around the 2025 All-Star break. The right calf has now been a problem twice this season, including December and now late January.

Calves can be tricky. They heal, then they flare. For a player who thrives on explosion and long strides, any loss of push can change everything — from how he attacks the rim to how he slides on defense. The Bucks know the risk. That is why the message is patience, not panic.

“If it takes 4–6 weeks, take it. Healthy Giannis in March beats rushed Giannis in January.”

What it means for Bucks vs. 76ers tonight

The short-term pain is obvious. Milwaukee is 15–15 with Giannis this season and 3–11 without him. They enter the night at 18–26, sitting 11th in the East, and have lost five of six. This is not a cushion; it is a tightrope.

Without Antetokounmpo’s 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game, offense by committee becomes the play. Expect more half-court sets, extra passes to find open shooters, and a need to protect the paint without his length. The team will have to lean on discipline, spacing, and rebounds from everyone. Kevin Porter Jr. is also out with an oblique issue, thinning the rotation further.

On defense, Milwaukee will try to build a wall without its best wall-builder. That means early help on drives and sharp rotations to the corners. Every stop matters against a 76ers group that can put pressure on the rim and the line.

Season stakes: playoff push and the trade deadline

The bigger picture is the playoff race. Milwaukee’s long-running playoff streak is under real threat. Sitting 11th with Giannis sidelined again, the room for error is tiny. The Feb. 5 trade deadline now looms larger. Do the Bucks seek short-term help to survive the next month? Or do they bet on internal growth, keep assets, and trust that Giannis’s return will steady the ship?

There is no easy answer. But there is urgency. Every loss swings the math. Every win buys time. And every day closer to March could bring them closer to a healthy Antetokounmpo.

“This isn’t about one game vs. Philly — it’s about surviving January to matter in March.”

All-Star and awards watch: the availability question

Antetokounmpo’s absence also touches the All-Star picture and awards eligibility. With a possible 4–6 week recovery, the calendar pinches the All-Star break in mid-February. Even if he returns by late February or early March, the missed time could influence awards discussion that often weighs availability alongside impact. None of this is top priority for the Bucks, but it is part of the wider story.

The road back: what to expect

The Bucks will not rush this. Antetokounmpo’s own words — “I’m gonna work my butt off to come back” — tell you what the rehab will look like: careful progress, load management, and a return only when the calf is ready. There is no timetable, but the 4–6 week estimate gives fans a reasonable window to watch.

In the meantime, Milwaukee’s identity must hold. Tough defense, smart shot selection, and a shared scoreboard have to carry them through. If the Bucks can stay close to .500 without him — something they have not done yet this season — they will give themselves a chance to surge when he is back.

Bottom line

Giannis Antetokounmpo is out tonight against the 76ers with a right calf strain. The injury, suffered Jan. 24 in Denver and confirmed by MRI, carries no official return date. History suggests caution, and the team is following that line.

Milwaukee’s season now turns on how well it navigates this stretch: win enough to stay in the mix, adjust on both ends, and get its star back healthy as the schedule moves toward March. The margin is thin, the stakes are high, and the next few weeks will tell us whether the Bucks can steady a shaky season — or whether this calf strain becomes the moment that defined it.