Here's When These 5 NBA All-Stars Will Return After the Break

Giannis Antetokounmpo - SIC score 84

Milwaukee’s championship hopes rely heavily on the health of all-star captain Giannis Antetokounmpo. 

Luckily, his recent right wrist sprain should not affect him in the second half of the season and his left knee injury can be managed through rest, as he has done the last several seasons.

He played just 20 seconds in the All-Star game, but that is not an indication that he was unable to play if it were a regular game.

Antetokounmpo will reportedly miss a few games to let the swelling subside, but the Pro Basketball Docs are not ruling out a return as early as Friday against the Heat on ESPN. 

By video, his wrist sprain appeared on the mild end and should not affect his ability to dribble, dunk or defend. The right wrist injury would be a much bigger concern if he relied on his jumper.

Stephen Curry - SIC score 58

Defending NBA Finals MVP Stephen Curry suffered seldom-heard left knee tibiofibular joint and interosseous membrane sprains from a direct knee contusion earlier this month that he said will cost him the first few games out of the all-star break, likely holding the 34-year-old out until at least early March. 

Unlike his left shoulder subluxation, which will continue to pose a risk of aggravation, Curry will return to the Warriors, 29-29 and 11-9 in the 20 games he’s missed this year, without lingering issues for the final 15 to 20 games of the season. 

Curry averaged 29.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.4 assists on 49.5% shooting, 42.7% from three and 92.2% from the free throw line in his first 38 games, and could join Steve Nash and Larry Bird as the only players with multiple 50-40-90 seasons if he made four consecutive field goals. 

Kevin Durant - SIC score 43

When 13-time all-star Kevin Durant suffered a right MCL sprain because of a tumbling Jimmy Butler on Jan. 8, he left the floor with Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons as a Brooklyn Net, but when he returns sometime in late-February or early-March, he will do so fully-healed and next to Chris Paul and Devin Booker with the West-favorite Suns. 

Durant similarly missed 21 games over seven weeks due to a left MCL sprain last January and returned on March 3 to play the final 23 regular season and playoff games without limitations. 

The four-time scoring champ will be able to share playmaking and defensive responsibilities with Paul, Booker, and DeAndre Ayton, all of whom are healthy and available going into the second half. 

Phoenix, 32-28, is the No. 5 seed in the West and 11-4 since Jan. 22 and stands only 1.5 games behind the Kings and Clippers, against whom the Suns will play three times in the final 16 games. 

Zion Williamson - SIC score 10

The Pelicans’ 22-year-old oft-injured point-forward Zion Williamson will reportedly miss several more weeks after he suffered a setback from his January 2nd right hamstring strain that has already cost him 22 games. 

Williamson scored 26 points with seven rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.7 steals-plus-blocks in 29 games this season and notched his fourth-longest stretch of consecutive games played with 14 between November 21 and December 19, but he will likely miss close to half the season for the third time in his four-year career.

The Pelicans, 30-29, were 23-14 when their franchise player went down and endured another three weeks without Brandon Ingram and Herbert Jones but have won four of their last six games and are among the 11-team pileup that are all within five games of a home playoff series and within 4.5 games of missing the play-in. 

Jaylen Brown - SIC score 89

The Celtics' all-star guard suffered a facial fracture on an errant elbow from teammate Jayson Tatum on Feb. 8. Brown had quite a bit of swelling after the fracture, but should be back soon after the All-Star Break.

His facial fracture is different from Joel Embiid’s during last season’s playoffs, but – like Embiid – he does not require surgery.

Brown already donned the mask in limited action in the All-Star game and will more-than-likely wear it for a the first few weeks back on the court.

The 26-year-old guard is averaging 26.5 points, 7 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 35.6 minutes per game while shooting 48.7% from the field.