Khris Middleton will miss time with a knee injury he suffered in Game 2.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton will miss the remainder of the first-round series against the Chicago Bulls because of an MCL sprain in his left knee, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The three-time All-Star will reportedly be reevaluated in two weeks.
Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Khris Middleton has an MCL sprain in his left knee and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, sources tell ESPN. Bucks will have to play without Middleton for the rest of this first-round series against Chicago.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 21, 2022
Middleton exited Game 2 with 6:49 left after his left leg gave out while he tried to plant on a spin move. Middleton initially tried to walk it off but eventually headed into the locker room.
“You could see that he was limping, limping and limping,” Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo said. “You’re thinking, ‘I hope this is not bad. I hope this is not bad. I hope this is not bad.’ We need this guy. Then when he asks for a sub, you know it’s kind of bothering him because he doesn’t leave the game if he’s not hurt.”
Middleton had 18 points and eight assists before leaving the game. The 30-year-old averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists during the season.
The series is tied 1-1 heading into Game 3 on Friday in Chicago (8:30 ET, ABC). If Milwaukee were to advance, The 30-year-old averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists during the season. against Boston or Brooklyn.
With Khris Middleton suffering an injury in Game 2, the Bucks’ bench must play better for Milwaukee to get past Chicago.
He played a vital role in the Bucks’ title run last season, averaging at least 21.5 points in each of the four playoff series. He had 24 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game in the NBA Finals.
“He’s always been positive and he knows the type of team that we are and how resilient we are,” Bucks guard Jrue Holiday said. “We just want him to get back as quickly as possible and be healthy so he can come out here and help us win games.”
Middleton’s situation represented the most notable of the Bucks’ many injury issues.
Bobby Portis left Wednesday’s game with a right eye abrasion after taking a hit to the face from Chicago’s Tristan Thompson late in the first quarter.
“We anticipate that he should be fine with some time,” Budenholzer said.
Reserve guard George Hill hasn’t played in this series due to an abdominal strain. Budenholzer said before Game 2 that Hill isn’t expected back in the short term and that the team will monitor how the 35-year-old Hill guard progresses over the next “handful of days or more.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.