Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton is expected to face the Brooklyn Nets at the Fiserv Forum. He will be returning to the court after a bilateral ankle surgery. The three-time All-Star’s status has been upgraded to probable which means there is an increased confidence in his recovery progress.
Middleton demonstrated his value to the team in their recent 112-91 victory over the Chicago Bulls, where he stepped up in the absence of teammates Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Leading both teams with 21 points, he added five rebounds and five assists This showed how good this Bucks star is all over the court.
The NBA veteran forward has been carefully managed this season, averaging 11.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in 21.6 minutes per game. Recently, he achieved a significant recovery milestone by playing in back-to-back games, something that had been restricted earlier in his return.
Khris Middleton (Image via AP)
“Going through the course of rehab, coming back and playing, and the way that I’ve been responding after games. I thought (Saturday) would be a great shot to see what a back-to-back felt like and hopefully move past that stage where I can’t play in back-to-backs anymore,” Middleton shared with The Athletic’s Eric Nehm.
Bucks head coach Rivers has been impressed with Middleton’s progress while maintaining strict minutes management. “The best rhythm from Khris Middleton. Still kept him under 25 (minutes), which was a miracle tonight,” Rivers noted. “This was the most like Khris that we’ve seen. And on the defensive end, I thought this was the best that he moved.”
The coaching staff’s careful approach to Middleton’s playing time reflects their long-term strategy. During a recent game, Rivers revealed the detailed attention paid to Middleton’s minutes: “At halftime, I think we had used 13 minutes, and I went to (assistant coach) Dave (Joerger) and said, ‘We got a minutes crisis here.'”
Middleton’s determination to increase his playing time is evident in his recent statement: “I want to be out there as much as I can, and I thought tonight was a great step forward for that.” This mindset, combined with his recent performance, suggests he’s moving closer to his pre-injury form.
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When and where to watch KLLhris Middleton play against the Brooklyn Nets tonight?
The upcoming matchup against the Brooklyn Nets is scheduled for Thursday, December 26, at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum, with tip-off set for 8 p.m. EST. Basketball fans can catch the action through local broadcasts on YES and FDSWI, while streaming options include the NBA League Pass and Fubo TV, subject to regional restrictions.
