Bucks continue winning streak while Giannis Antetokounmpo continues injury streak

Before the game against the Miami Heat, Giannis Antetokounmpo was ruled "questionable" to play after spraining his wrist in the Bucks' final game before the All-Star break. In their second-to-last game, an overtime win against Boston, he took a hard fall after banging knees with a Celtic.

In the All-Star Game itself, Antetokounmpo hit his first shot and subbed out to protect the wrist.

This time it was an injury to his knee, which coach Mike Budenholzer said was the result of Antetokounmpo bumping knees with another player, though he wasn't sure when.

Even without the two-time MVP, the Bucks defeated the Heat by a whopping 29 points for their 13th straight win. It's the longest streak in the NBA this season.

Fellow All-Star Jrue Holiday stepped up without the Greek Freak, leading all scorers with 24 points and dishing seven assists, but his most impressive performance was during a timeout singalong to the Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way."

It was the third straight loss for the Heat, who are positioned to face Milwaukee in the first round if the standings remain as they are. 

Miami added new signing Kevin Love to the starting lineup Friday, hoping for a boost to the league's lowest-scoring offense. It didn't work. Love went scoreless in 22 minutes.

After the game, Holiday told reporters he hoped Antetokounmpo would sit out and get healthy.

"Sometimes you have to stop him from himself," Holiday said. "Being able to calm down and maybe even not play a couple of games, knowing that we’re No. 2 (in the East), knowing that we’re all right."

Of course, he also sympathized. 

"He tries to play every single game, which I completely understand. I feel like I’m the same way," said Holiday.

Antetokounmpo's playing streak will take a pause. The Bucks hope their winning streak doesn't have to.