Brook Lopez injury tracker: Updates for Bucks center

Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez has been ruled out of Thursday’s matchup at the Miami Heat with a back injury. The timetable for how long he’ll be out of action is unknown and he will join Jrue Holiday and Bobby Portis among the Milwaukee players who will be out of action of the road matchup.

Brook Lopez injury updates

Update, Oct. 25: Lopez has been ruled out again for Monday’s game vs. the Indiana Pacers due to a back injury. This will be the third straight game Lopez will miss this season.

Update, Oct. 22: Lopez has been ruled out for Milwaukee’s Saturday matchup against the San Antonio Spurs. Bobby Portis has also been ruled out, so this opens the door for more Giannis Antetokounmpo minutes at the center position. The Greek Freak is already a star in DFS and fantasy lineups, but could have a slightly different role Saturday.

Fantasy basketball impact

Update, Oct. 25: With Lopez sidelined, the Bucks have opted to play small ball with Pat Connaughton and Grayson Allen in the starting lineup vs. the Spurs. We should see the Bucks lean into this lineup where Giannis plays center. The team doesn’t have much size with Bobby Portis also sidelined. Until both Lopez and Portis are healthy, the team will use Giannis more as a cog in the middle and play Khris Middleton at SF/PF.

Lopez made just a modest contribution in Tuesday’s season-opening win over Brooklyn, registering just eight points and five rebounds in 28 minutes of action.

His absence only increases the fantasy value of Giannis Antetokounmpo as he’ll shoulder a heavier burden in the paint as well as creating some value for Thanasis Antetokounmpo to get some more run in Miami.

Betting impact

The Heat are favored by two-points in Thursday’s matchup and that seems about right with a handful of Milwaukee’s playmakers sitting out of this early-season playoff rematch from last year.