The Milwaukee Bucks’ injured superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo doesn’t want to be shut down for the rest of the season, putting him at odds with the team, according to multiple reports Wednesday.

Antetokounmpo, 31, is currently sidelined by a hyperextended left knee and a bone bruise, the latest in an injury-plagued season that has caused the two-time MVP to miss a career-high 32 games.

The Bucks (28-40) are currently 6 1/2 games behind the 10th-place Charlotte Hornets (35-34) for the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference.

With only 14 games remaining, Milwaukee’s hopes to play beyond the regular season are dwindling. However, the lower the Bucks sink in the standings, the better their prospects for what is regarded as a top-heavy first round of the 2026 NBA Draft.

The team, which had rebuffed trade offers for its superstar, has argued that it’s best for Antetokounmpo’s future as well as for the organization that he cut short the season, but he wants to keep playing, per the reports.

Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Tuesday that recent imaging revealed no structural damage, with Antetokounmpo reportedly to be re-evaluated in one week.

Antetokounmpo missed 15 games due to a calf strain before returning on March 2, then sat out another two games when the team went 2-6 (0-2 without him). A left ankle sprain was cited as the cause of his absence from the 122-99 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on March 14.

He exited during the third quarter after landing awkwardly on a dunk during a home victory over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. Then he missed Tuesday’s 123-116 home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Milwaukee is 11-21 without the 10-time All-Star and 17-19 with him this season.

He is averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 36 games and already is set to play the fewest games of his 13 seasons with the Bucks. His previous low was 61 games during the shortened 2020-21 campaign.

Antetokounmpo has career averages of 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 895 games (830 starts).

–Field Level Media

The Boston Bruins are working overtime in the midst of a heated playoff race.

After reaching overtime in three straight road games and five of their last six overall, coach Marco Sturm’s Bruins look to get back on the winning track at home when they entertain the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night.

“We wanted to be .500 and above (on the road trip) and we did that,” Sturm said. “So, now we got to go home and reset.”

The Bruins (37-23-8, 82 points) earned points but also left some on the table. As a result, they are tied with the Detroit Red Wings as the two current Eastern Conference wild-card teams, but the Columbus Blue Jackets sit just one point behind and have a game in hand.

During the final minute of overtime in Tuesday’s 3-2 loss at Montreal, Pavel Zacha’s breakaway opportunity was stopped by Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes. Cole Caufield scored the game-winner at the other end of the ice.

“Sometimes, it’s not on our side,” Sturm said.

Zacha was at the forefront of the attack Tuesday, scoring twice to establish a new career-high goal total of 22 and nearly lifting goaltender Jeremy Swayman to his fifth win in six starts with another tally in overtime. He has scored three in the last two games.

“We are clicking with our line, and it is a lot of fun playing with them. I also think power play helps a lot, too,” Zacha said. “We’re better on the power play than last year. That kind of gives you more of the looks and points there.”

The Jets (28-28-11, 67 points) have a tougher path to the playoffs, with three other teams separating them from the Western Conference cut line, and taking a 4-3 shootout loss to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday did not help.

Winnipeg held a 39-23 shot advantage and managed to tie the game with just over a minute remaining in regulation, but it wasn’t enough.

Gabriel Vilardi notched a goal and an assist, while Josh Morrissey and Jonathan Toews also scored goals for Winnipeg against Nashville. Kyle Connor assisted on all three Jets goals.

“We had 70 to 80 shot attempts. Their goaltender (Juuse Saros) was outstanding,” said Jets coach Scott Arniel. “In that second period, some shots he didn’t see. We hit a couple of crossbars and posts and missed the net a few times. We had tons of opportunities and Saros made some big stops.”

It was a point earned to conclude an eight-game homestand at 5-2-1. However, all three losses have come in the last five games.

“Every game’s playoff mode right now for us. That’s the position we put ourselves in because of our earlier in the season trouble,” Vilardi said. “Right now we’re in playoff mode obviously, and we got to preferably get two points, but what are you going to do?”

One downside recently has been the Winnipeg power play, which went 2-for-18 during the recent homestand and 1-for-4 on Tuesday. Improving that statistic will be crucial to navigate the competitive West playoff race.

“Special teams can be difference makers,” defenseman Josh Morrissey said. “We have done a lot of good things, but we have another gear as a group.”

–Field Level Media

Aryna Sabalenka didn’t mince words when asked about Dubai this week, saying criticism tied to her February withdrawal has left her questioning whether she’ll return to the event at all.

“I’m not sure if I ever want to go back there after his comment. For me it’s too much,” the world No. 1 said Tuesday at the Miami Open.

Sabalenka’s frustration stems from remarks by Dubai Tennis Championships tournament director Salah Tahlak after she and Iga Swiatek pulled out of the WTA 1000 event in February.

“It was an unfortunate surprise last night to get news of the withdrawal of Aryna and Iga,” Tahlak told The National in February. “And the reasons for withdrawal were a bit strange. Iga said she wasn’t mentally ready to compete, while Sabalenka said she has some minor injuries. I think there should be a harsher punishment on the players (for withdrawing). Not just fines — they should be docked ranking points.”

In Miami, Sabalenka called that stance “ridiculous” and said it reflects a bigger disconnect between tournaments and the players they rely on.

“For me it’s so funny — not so ‘funny,’ it’s actually so sad — to see that the tournament director and the tournaments are not protecting us, as the players,” she said. “They just care about their sellings, about their tournament, and that’s it.”

Sabalenka framed her decision to skip Dubai as part of a deliberate shift to protect her body in a calendar she believes is becoming unsustainably packed.

“I feel like scheduling, it’s too crazy,” she said, explaining the need for planned gaps to “reset, recharge” and build toward the biggest events.

The WTA echoed this concern in a statement, saying: “Athlete well-being is a top priority for the WTA,” and noting the formation of a Tour Architecture Council with recommendations to be put into action as soon as the 2027 season.

If Sabalenka were to follow through and skip Dubai going forward, it wouldn’t be a simple calendar tweak. WTA 1000s are mandatory events, and missing one results in an immediate ranking hit because a player receives zero points for that tournament week. It’s part of the structure the WTA uses to keep top players in its biggest non-Slam fields. Elite players are required to play the four majors, a set number of WTA 500s, and all 10 WTA 1000 tournaments.

For now, Sabalenka is focused on Miami — but her message to Dubai was clear. If the cost of prioritizing health is public scolding, she’s willing to take her schedule elsewhere.

–Field Level Media