MILWAUKEE -- Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was sidelined for his team's 138-122 win in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat on Wednesday night.
Coach Mike Budenholzer said at his pregame availability that Antetokounmpo wouldn't be available because of the lower back contusion that knocked the two-time MVP out of the Bucks' 130-117 Game 1 loss on Sunday.
"He's continued to improve," Budenholzer said. "But organizationally, talking and working with him and the sports performance group, a decision was made. He's out.
"We'll continue to monitor him, expect for him to improve and still continue to be optimistic that soon he'll be ready to play."
Antetokounmpo was driving to the basket with a little over four minutes left in the first quarter Sunday when he collided with Miami's Kevin Love, who got called for a blocking foul on the play.
Antetokounmpo landed awkwardly on his backside and lay on the floor before getting up slowly. He stayed in the game to attempt his free throws and didn't leave until picking up his second foul with 1:46 left in the first quarter.
Antetokounmpo then headed into the locker room, only to return to the game with 9:56 remaining in the second quarter. He headed back to the locker room with 8:33 left in the second quarter and didn't play again.
Although Antetokounmpo was upgraded on the league's official injury report from doubtful to questionable earlier Wednesday, Budenholzer said the team only did so to maintain flexibility when there was a chance he would play.
"We know that the style will just be a little bit different [without Antetokounmpo]," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said before the game. "In the two games we played against them without Giannis, they're averaging close to 55 3-point attempts per game; we can probably anticipate a lot of pace and trying to get to drive and kicks or transition 3s. And then continuing to be efficient."
Milwaukee was 11-8 without Antetokounmpo during the regular season.
The Bucks also were missing Wesley Matthews, who was out with a right calf strain after playing 18 minutes in Game 1. Budenholzer said Matthews got hurt during Sunday's game.
Milwaukee had Bobby Portis fill Antetokounmpo's usual spot in the starting lineup.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.