The NBA world watched on in horror as league favourite Giannis Antetokounmpo went down with a gruesome knee injury that could have disastrous consequences for the Milwaukee Bucks' title hopes.
Antetokounmpo collapsed in a heap in Game 4 against the Atlanta Hawks when he got up high for a fiercely contested alley-oop, hyper-extending his left leg as he came crashing to ground.
There was concern over the seriousness of the injury as the 'Greek Freak' immediately clutched at his knee, wailing, as Sate Farm Arena fell silent.
"Oh no, oh my goodness," NBA legend Reggie Miller said in commentary.
"There was a lot of contact on the alley there. This is something you absolutely don't want to see."
NBA on TNT commentator Marv Albert added: "I can't even look at it."
In a stirring scene, Antetokounmpo was helped off the court by his brother, Thanassis, who shouldered his brother's weight as he hobbled into the change rooms.
It was all too much for the basketball world, as prominent figures around the game flooded Twitter with messages of support, concern and disbelief.
https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/1410055087708274692https://twitter.com/stephenasmith/status/1410055653041721347https://twitter.com/BenGolliver/status/1410055515468611584https://twitter.com/PatrickMahomes/status/1410055043156414464https://twitter.com/samsowne/status/1410058430723756033https://twitter.com/TaylorRooks/status/1410055195099336704
The Bucks were down 62-52 in the third quarter at the time he fell to the floor. At that point they led the series against the Hawks 2-1.
Antetokounmpo managed to return to the bench just minutes after the injury before heading back to the locker room as the Hawks pushed away to a big lead.
https://twitter.com/BenGolliver/status/1410056290081067009
He was later officially ruled out of the rest of Game 4 with a left knee hyper-extension, as the Hawks tied the series 2-2.
It is still yet to be seen if Antetokounmpo has been ruled out for the remainder of the series in what will no doubt be a devastating blow for the Bucks.
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