Bucks Ersan Ilyasova shut down with ankle injury

The Milwaukee Bucks lost to the New York Knicks on Wednesday by the score of 107-101. It was their fourth consecutive loss and dropped their record to 5-20 on the season.  Part of the problems have been the play of power forward Erasn Ilyasova, who was only 2-of-10 shooting in 49 minutes against the Knicks and a woeful 6-of-35 over the last four games. Now the Bucks are shutting down Illyasova due to an ankle injury.

As reported by Kurt Helin of NBCSports.com, Ilyasova has struggled all season. He has gone from 13.2 points per game and 46.2 percent shooting to 8.2 points per game and an anemic 38.3 percent shooting from the floor.  Much of his play can be attributed to injuries to his thumb, hamstring and now ankle.

According to CF Gardner, sports writer for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Ilyasova could miss quite a bit of time.

Ersan Ilyasova is being shut down due to his ankle injury and Gary Neal in a walking boot and will not travel to Cleveland, Drew says.
— cfgardner (@cf_gardner) December 19, 2013

With Ilyasova out, expect increased playing time for Ekpe Udoh, who was scoreless in 16 minutes on Wednesday night. Udoh is in his 4th season out of Baylor. In 22 games this season, he is averaging 4.5 points and 4.1 rebounds, in 21.7 minutes per game.

Ilyasova was drafted by the Bucks in the second round in 2005. In his sixth NBA season, his career averages are 10.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.  Ilyasova's best overall season was in 2011-2012 when he averaged 13 points, 8.8 rebounds and shot 49.2 percent from the floor and 45.5 percent from 3-point range.