On 12/18/2025, both teams confirmed major absences for tonight’s Toronto Raptors vs. Milwaukee Bucks matchup. Toronto will again be without RJ Barrett due to a right knee sprain, marking his 11th consecutive missed game. Milwaukee will miss its engine, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is out with a right calf strain and, as of the latest update, has no timetable listed. For a game that already carried weight, those two headlines reshape the night and the scouting on both sides.

Here’s how the final injury reports read and what it really means for both teams, based on the official NBA report and game previews from Athlon Sports and Sports Illustrated.

Final injury report: who’s in, who’s out

The NBA’s official listing for 12/18/25 is clear. Toronto has ruled out Barrett, noting the right knee sprain that has kept him sidelined for nearly a dozen games. As Athlon summarized: “RJ Barrett has been ruled OUT (knee sprain) … he will miss his 11th consecutive contest due to the injury.”

On the Milwaukee side, the Bucks’ submission confirms Giannis Antetokounmpo: Out — calf. Sports Illustrated’s preview mirrors that status and flags several teammates:

• Kyle Kuzma — Questionable (Illness)
• Cole Anthony — Questionable (Neck)
• AJ Green — Out (Shoulder)
• Taurean Prince — Out (Neck)

Taken together, the Bucks could be short on both star power and wing depth depending on how the “questionable” tags break. Meanwhile, Toronto’s list is short but impactful with Barrett out again.

“No Giannis and no RJ? This turns into a coaching chess match.”

What RJ Barrett’s absence means for the Raptors

Barrett’s game is built on getting downhill, drawing help, and scoring in traffic. When he’s out, the Raptors lose a steady wing attacker who can also handle the ball. That matters late in games, when matchups get tight and every drive bends the defense.

Toronto has now navigated 11 straight games without him. That’s enough time to form new habits, but it also tests depth. Without Barrett, the shot creation has to be more committee-based. Ball-handling by guards becomes more important, and wings must hit open looks to keep the floor spaced.

The silver lining? One absence can clarify roles. Everyone knows where their shots might come from, and that can build rhythm. But it also shrinks the margin for error, especially against a long and physical Milwaukee team, even without Giannis.

“Eleven games without Barrett is the real test of Toronto’s identity.”

How the Bucks adjust without Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis is Milwaukee’s pace-setter. He forces help, powers in transition, and anchors the team’s pressure on both ends. Without him, the Bucks’ attack becomes more about half-court timing and shot-making. The paint touches that Giannis typically creates must come from smart cuts, screening, and drive-and-kick reads.

The health of Kyle Kuzma and Cole Anthony could swing the look of this game. If they’re available, Milwaukee adds size on the wing (Kuzma) and another creator (Anthony). If they’re not, the Bucks get thinner in spots that matter when you’re already down a superstar. With AJ Green and Taurean Prince ruled out, Milwaukee’s wing and shooting depth is already pinched.

“If Kuzma and Cole suit up, the Bucks’ wing size changes everything.”

Key pressure points: where this game can tilt

1) Paint touches vs. perimeter answers: Without Giannis, Milwaukee may need to win more possessions from the three-point line and by moving the ball quickly to crease the defense. Toronto, missing Barrett, will want to get easier looks through pace, off-ball movement, and second-chance chances.

2) Turnovers: Star players often calm games down. Without them, mistakes can rise. The team that values the ball and gets it to the right spots consistently will have the edge, especially late.

3) Foul game: Giannis lives at the line. With him out, the Bucks lose those “free” points. Toronto must avoid cheap fouls and make Milwaukee beat them with jumpers and smart cuts. On the flip side, the Raptors need to earn rim pressure without Barrett’s drives.

4) Role confidence: These are showcase nights for the next player up. Who brings the steady plays in the second and third quarters? Who makes the corner threes, finishes through contact, or strings two stops together? Those small wins stack up fast when star power is off the floor.

What the reports tell us about timing and expectations

It’s notable that the official NBA document for 12/18/25 lists Giannis Antetokounmpo as Out with a calf issue and provides no timetable. That doesn’t predict a long absence by itself, but it does mean there’s no firm return window listed yet. For the Bucks, clarity will come game-to-game.

For Toronto, Athlon’s wording underscores the ongoing nature of Barrett’s knee sprain: “RJ Barrett has been ruled OUT (knee sprain) … he will miss his 11th consecutive contest.” When a player clears double-digit missed games, teams often lean harder into lineup continuity, keeping schemes simple and point-of-attack defense strong.

Coaching and game plan: simple travels

Injuries like these usually push coaches to simplify. Expect more bread-and-butter actions, fewer experimental sets, and a focus on the first good shot rather than the perfect one. On defense, both sides may toggle between man principles and selective help rather than aggressive blitzes that risk wide-open threes.

With Bucks wings AJ Green and Taurean Prince out, Milwaukee’s spacing and point-of-attack options could be thinner. If Kuzma plays, he helps soak up minutes and adds shot-making at the forward spot. If Cole Anthony is active, he brings dribble creation the Bucks will need without Giannis.

The bottom line

Even without two headliners, there’s real intrigue. Toronto’s job is to control the tempo, protect the ball, and create rim pressure by committee. Milwaukee’s job is to steady the ship without Giannis, grab control of shot quality, and get enough from its questionable players to balance the rotation.

Injury reports are the story before tip, but they don’t decide the game by themselves. How each team adapts in real time — who keeps a cool head, who wins the small margins — will write the rest.

Sources: Official NBA Injury Report (12/18/25), Athlon Sports, Sports Illustrated.