PHOENIX – The Milwaukee Bucks appear to have dodged a bullet with regard to the injured left knee of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The team announced Sunday afternoon prior to the Bucks' game with the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena that an MRI revealed the reigning NBA MVP had suffered a minor joint capsule sprain.

But that was the only good news for Milwaukee, which struggled from the outset without its superstar in giving up 47 first-quarter points and ultimately suffered an ugly 140-131 loss.

Khris Middleton poured in 39 to lead the Bucks and Eric Bledsoe added 28.

But Devin Booker scored 28 of his 36 in the first half, and Ricky Rubio added a monster triple-double with 25 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists as Milwaukee dropped consecutive games for the first time this season.

BOX SCORE:Suns 140, Bucks 131

"It was a little bit disappointing, the way we first came out," Middleton said. "It's on that first group...to come out with a better sense of urgency. But after that we competed, played as hard as we could and we made it a ballgame.

"If we came out like that at the beginning of the game, it's a whole different ballgame."

The Bucks looked dead in the water early on in falling behind, 77-59, at halftime only to climb back into it thanks to a spirited rally by their bench corps midway through the third quarter.

With the likes of Pat Connaughton, Donte DiVincenzo and Robin Lopez leading the way, they both quieted Booker and cut into what had been a commanding Suns lead considerably.

A loud "Let's Go Bucks" chant -- undoubtedly started by the scores of Brewers fans in town for spring training -- broke out in the arena as Connaughton completed a three-point play that trimmed the Phoenix lead to 100-91.

"I liked the competitiveness of our group in the second half, the way we fought and gave ourselves a chance," coach Mike Budenholzer said.

Middleton then drained a three to open the fourth quarter, pulling the Bucks to within 102-94, before Aron Baynes and Mikal Bridges got the Suns back on track.

Milwaukee kept pushing the rest of the way but Phoenix seemingly had an answer at every turn. Things got interesting late after Marvin Williams hit a pair of free throws and Middleton scored on a layup when the Suns turned the ball over on the ensuing inbounds play.

That made it 134-128 with 44 seconds remaining. The Suns answered by hitting all six of their free throws down the stretch, closing the game out.

The Suns finished the game 55.3% from the floor and 44.2% from beyond the arc (19 for 43) in reaching a season high in points. The Bucks -- who never led -- were 53.7%/39.4% (13 for 33).

In losing, the Bucks fell to 53-11 and missed out on a chance to join the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, 1995-'96 and 1996-'97 Chicago Bulls and the 2015-16 San Antonio Spurs as the only teams to win at least 54 of their first 64 games since the NBA-ABA merger.

Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, won't play Sunday, or in the final game of the road trip Monday in Denver. His status for the Bucks' game against the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum on Thursday will be updated later in the week.

"I think overall we're very pleased," coach Mike Budenholzer said before the game. "I think this was about as good an outcome and prognosis as we could hope for -- I guess unless there was nothing (wrong).

"He plays so hard and attacks the basket and he is in some tough situations, so we'll miss him today and tomorrow and we'll just see where it goes from there."

Antetokounmpo injured his knee Friday night in the Bucks' loss to the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center when he landed awkwardly after a dunk attempt.

He had been listed as doubtful for the Suns game, prior to the results of his MRI being released, and was with the Bucks in Phoenix.

"It's definitely a relief, because he's a big, big part of what we do," Bledsoe said. "If we're going to have a chance to win the title, he's definitely going to need to be healthy."

Ersan Ilyasova started in Antetokounmpo's place against the Suns, who entered Sunday with the third-worst record in the Western Conference at 25-38 and had major injury problems of their own with center Deandre Ayton (ankle) and Kelly Oubre (knee) out.

But they still had Booker, and his first shot of the game -- a three from the top of the key -- set the tone for the first half.

The Suns' first four shots were all makes from beyond the arc, and they hit their first seven shots in all in jumping all over the Bucks, 18-6.

Middleton took the reins offensively for Milwaukee by scoring 16 straight points not long thereafter. But the defense remained non-existent as Phoenix scored at will from all over the court.

Booker and his teammates kept on firing away, and the Bucks had no answer. Rubio hit consecutive threes late in the half to extend the Suns' lead to 77-56 before Milwaukee finally got a break with Korver draining a corner three at the buzzer.

"We were down 19, and I think we won the other three quarters," Budenholzer said. "Hard win win three quarters and lose the game by nine still. It was a huge hole. They shot it well, they executed well, defensively they were into us.

"Credit to Phoenix. They were really good today."

Phoenix shot 63% from the floor and 59.1% (13 for 22) from three-point range, with Booker going for 28 points on 10-for-12 shooting.

Middleton scored 20 in the first half for the Bucks, who also welcomed George Hill back from a two-game absence caused by a groin contusion in Miami.

Check back on JSOnline.com later for updates.