Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer expressed cautious optimism regarding the status of Giannis Antetokounmpo after the two-time MVP left Milwaukee’s Eastern Conference playoff opener with a bruised lower back.

Antetokounmpo isn’t the only prominent player already dealing with a health issue after the first weekend of the playoffs. Injuries to some of the NBA’s top stars have dimmed the start of the postseason, with title hopes possibly fading just as quickly depending on how bad they’re hurt.

Budenholzer said Monday that Antetokounmpo underwent an MRI after the game that revealed “everything’s clean.” The Bucks lost 130-117 to the Miami Heat on Sunday and trail the best-of-7 series 1-0 heading into Game 2 on Wednesday night.

“I would say he’s still sore, but I think progress,” Budenholzer said. “He’s getting some treatment. I think we’ll just continue to monitor him for the next day or two. We’re probably fortunate that (we have) two days between games. I think (we’re) still mostly positive, mostly optimistic, but we’ll see how he feels over the next day or two.”

Injuries over the span of a couple hours Sunday also sidelined two-time All-Star Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies and the Miami Heat’s Tyler Herro, keeping them from finishing their playoff openers.

Both Antetokounmpo and Morant were hurt on drives to the basket where each landed awkwardly.

Antetokounmpo came down hard on his backside after being fouled by Miami’s Kevin Love.

Herro broke his right hand late in the second quarter, apparently while diving for a loose ball.

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said Herro, seen with a cast on his hand after the game, won’t play Game 2 on Wednesday night and the Heat will figure out what to do next.

Morant went into Sunday’s first-round Western Conference series against the Lakers with his right hand already bandaged after being hurt in a win that clinched the No. 2 seed for the Grizzlies.

Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said X-rays were negative and the Grizzlies will do further testing taking this injury one day at a time.

Morant said he’s doubtful for Game 2 on Wednesday night with Memphis down 0-1 following a 128-112 loss.

The New York Knicks are dealing with a new injury as guard Josh Hart was limited in practice Monday with a sprained left ankle.

Hart will likely be listed as questionable for Game 2 today.

Memphis’ Jackson is defensive player of year >> Nobody blocked more shots per game, nor had better defensive numbers at the rim this season, than Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr. And voters noticed. The Memphis big man was announced as the NBA’s defensive player of the year.

Jackson got 56 first-place votes and 391 voting points to finish ahead of runner-up Brook Lopez of Milwaukee.