Around the NBA: Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James earn player of the week honors

TOP BUCKS PLAYER

Giannis Antetokounmpo has been the lone consistent contributor over the Bucks' past three games. He's averaged 32.7 points, 12.7 rebounds (4.3 offensive), 5.0 assists and 2.3 steals per contest over three games dating to last Saturday's matchup with the Utah Jazz. Despite playing over 40 minutes per game in that span, Antetokounmpo committed just five turnovers and committed only six fouls. He's taken care of the ball and assumed multiple defensive roles with aplomb, including spending most of the fourth quarter of Friday's game at center.

BUCKS LOOK AHEAD

The Bucks won't get much respite following Saturday's game against the West-leading Houston Rockets as they return home to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. The Cavaliers have won 16 of 17 heading into Saturday's game against the Jazz and have won five in a row against the Bucks, including both matchups this season. Following the game against Cleveland, Milwaukee will log it's third Friday-Saturday back-to-back of the month as it hosts the Charlotte Hornets on Friday before a rematch between the two teams on Saturday in Charlotte.

BUCKS QUOTE

Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe on his toughness on defense and ability to get around screens: “I’m a dog, man. I’m a dog; I’m a pit bull. That is what I do. When I came into the league I was a defensive player, picking up full court and doing the whole nine yards. That’s what I do.”

TOP NBA PLAYER

LeBron James is doing it all for the rejuvenated Cavaliers. He's averaging a triple-double over Cleveland's past three games, putting up 26.7 points, 14.0 assists and 10.7 rebounds per contest to lead the Cavaliers to three successive victories. He scored 30 points despite an underwhelming night from the field against the Philadelphia 76ers on last Saturday, adding 13 assists and 13 rebounds. James then tied his career-high with 17 assists against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday then recorded his fourth triple-double of the season with 25 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists against the Los Angeles Lakers.

TOP NBA TEAM

The Chicago Bulls were essentially left for dead, standing at 3-20 following a loss to the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 6, their 10th defeat in a row. Then Nikola Mirotic returned from a facial fracture suffered in a preseason skirmish with teammate Bobby Portis and the Bulls found new life. They've won five games in a row, including four over the past week. They beat the New York Knicks thanks to a pair of free throws by Kris Dunn with 2.0 seconds left, won by 23 over the East-leading Celtics without Kyrie Irving, then outlasted the Jazz and Bucks. Mirotic is already making a major impact, averaging a team-high 20.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

NBA QUOTE

76ers center Joel Embiid and Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns went back and forth on Instagram on Thursday, a day after the 76ers beat the Timberwolves in overtime.

Embiid: "Euro stepping our way through Minnesota and we ended up raising the cat last night #TheProcess"

Towns: "The Caption was as trash as your picture quality."

Embiid: "better quality than your defense."

NBA RANKINGS

Top 10: 1. Houston Rockets, 2. Golden State Warriors, 3. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4. Boston Celtics, 5. Toronto Raptors, 6. San Antonio Spurs, 7. Minnesota Timberwolves, 8. Washington Wizards, 9. Denver Nuggets, 10. Milwaukee Bucks.

Middle 10: 11. Indiana Pacers, 12. Portland Trail Blazers, 13. Oklahoma City Thunder, 14. Detroit Pistons, 15. New York Knicks, 16. New Orleans Pelicans, 17. Utah Jazz, 18. Miami Heat, 19. Philadelphia 76ers, 20. Los Angeles Clippers.

Bottom 10: 21. Brooklyn Nets, 22. Chicago Bulls, 23. Los Angeles Lakers, 24. Sacramento Kings, 25. Charlotte Hornets, 26. Orlando Magic, 27. Dallas Mavericks, 28. Memphis Grizzlies, 29. Phoenix Suns, 30. Atlanta Hawks.

ONE MAN'S OPINION

It's a cliche to say that there are things bigger than basketball. Like many cliches, that statement is undeniably true.

This week, the weight of an issue bigger than basketball hit home for the Bucks as forward Mirza Teletovic was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs. It's the second time in less than three years that Teletovic has dealt with that condition.

In a basketball sense, Teletovic will remain on the sidelines as he undergoes a 10-day rest period under monitoring from medical professionals before engaging in a prescribed course of treatment.

He could be out for weeks or months. Or his career could be in jeopardy considering the serious and life-threatening nature of this condition, which played a part in ending the career of former Raptors and Heat forward Chris Bosh.

Bucks coach Jason Kidd downplayed the severity of Teletovic's condition on Friday, saying, "a lot of injuries can affect our lives in way or another," but in the same answer implied that this situation could be more serious than a knee, ankle or foot injury common in the NBA.

"He’s one of the best in that locker room, he’s a veteran and for the Bucks as an organization, we can only give support to him and his family until he’s ready to make a decision on playing or not playing," Kidd said.

Deciding between playing or not playing is about as serious as it gets for an athlete. It puts the Bucks in a bit of a lurch considering the load Teletovic was expected to carry off the bench.

But, again, this is bigger than basketball, and you can only hope for the best for Teletovic as he recovers.