Khris Middleton out for the rest of the first-round series against Chicago

Adrian Wojnarowski: 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.
Source: Twitter @wojespn

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Brian Mahoney @briancmahoney
Injuries to Devin Booker and Khris Middleton have made the road back to the NBA Finals a bumpy one for the Suns and Bucks.
apnews.com/article/new-or… – 8:49 PM Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Bucks say Khris Middleton out at least two weeks, reportedly could be 3-4 weeks nba.nbcsports.com/2022/04/21/buc… – 8:13 PM Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Bucks confirm Khris Middleton will be re-evaluated in two weeks after a left MCL sprain – 7:55 PM Joe Cowley @JCowleyHoops
Latest on Khris Middleton – not good news for the Bucks.
Read it:
chicago.suntimes.com/bulls/2022/4/2… – 7:45 PM Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
ESPN story on Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Khris Middleton sidelined for the rest of the opening-round playoff series vs. Chicago — and maybe longer: espn.com/nba/story/_/id… – 7:09 PM Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Injuries really impacting the playoff landscape. Luka reportedly out again for Game 3, now we learn that Milwaukee has lost Khris Middleton until at least the second round and Devin Booker is out for a while for Phoenix. No sure things in this crazy year. – 6:43 PM Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
The #Bucks now formally release their injury report and say Khris Middleton is, indeed, out, for Friday’s Game 3 vs. the #Bulls – 6:30 PM Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
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. – 6:27 PM Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
Bucks’ Khris Middleton will likely miss Games 3-4 vs. Chicago and is sidelined indefinitely with sprained MCL injury, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. – 6:26 PM Adam Wexler @AdamJWexler
How would this starting five of players injured since April 10th fare in the playoffs – if healthy?
Booker, Luka, Barnes, Middleton, Capela – 6:21 PM Ted Davis @nbated
Doing Fill in today 3-6pm @TheGameMKE 97.3 @WNFL with @dneedles12 The Retirement Bros. Where to get the best Damn Dinner at 4pm. 😁🤣😂 With Middleton hurt what next for Bucks? Plus win $1000 each hour. @Palermo_Villa @IRONJOC https://t.co/vwJDH8Zzrr pic.twitter.com/Mc93x37LZE – 3:46 PM Mike McGraw @McGrawDHSports
Bucks leaders in plus/minus & net rating so far in this series:
P/M
Giannis +10
Lopez +2.5
Holiday/Middleton +1.5
Net rating
Giannis +12.1
Lopez +2.1
Middleton +0.7 – 3:07 PM Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
New: Looking at the implications and mapping out Khris Middleton’s recovery timeline with the impact on a potential second round series matchup with the #Celtics looming masslive.com/celtics/2022/0… – 2:12 PM Vivek Jacob @vivekmjacob
These injuries to Booker and Middleton suck. I really hope Doncic doesn’t come back until he’s absolutely ready and the Raptors gotta be prudent about Barnes facing an 0-3 hole, too. – 1:55 PM Gery Woelfel @GeryWoelfel
Bucks were heavy 10-point favorites in Games 1 and 2 in Milwaukee. Now, with Middleton injured, Bucks are mere 1.5 pt favorites for Game 3 in Chicago. – 1:49 PM Jeff Stotts @InStreetClothes
Re: Khris Middleton: Recovery rates for MCL sprains depend on the severity of the sprain & any possible meniscus damage. The fibers of the MCL are intertwined with the medial meniscus. Fortunately, Middleton’s previous meniscus injury was in the opposite knee. – 8:01 AM Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Bucks’ Middleton suffers sprained left knee MCL in Game 2, MRI Thursday nba.nbcsports.com/2022/04/21/buc… – 7:31 AM Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
And worse yet, #Bucks all-star Khris Middleton suffers MCL sprain in the loss to the Bulls jsonline.com/story/sports/n… via @journalsentinel – 3:28 AM Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Obviously, the focus is currently on Khris Middleton’s injury, but here is what Mike Budenholzer had to say about Bobby Portis’ injury:
“He’s got a right eye abrasion. We anticipate that he should be fine with some time and that he should be good.” – 1:38 AM Alex Kennedy @AlexKennedyNBA
Khris Middleton sprained his MCL and will undergo an MRI. A Grade-1 MCL sprain sidelines a player for an average of ∼17 days (or ∼8.5 games) while a Grade-2 MCL sprain sidelines a player for an average of ∼41 days (or ∼21 games), per @Jeff Stotts: basketballnews.com/stories/khris-… – 1:31 AM Kevin O’Connor @KevinOConnorNBA
The Bulls have a real chance of beating the Bucks if Khris Middleton misses the rest of the series. Dude dropped 40 points in Game 4 of the Finals. So crucial with his scoring and playmaking. Big stretch for Jrue, Giannis has to do even more otherworldly stuff. Bulls have a shot. – 1:19 AM Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
At @TheAthletic: Bucks’ Khris Middleton suffers MCL injury in loss to Bulls theathletic.com/news/bucks-khr… – 1:12 AM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
MCL sprain for Middleton makes sense with the way his leg slipped out from under him. Somewhat similar mechanism to Steph Curry’s in 2016 when he slipped on the Motiejunas wet spot. Let’s hope it’s Grade 1, in which case he might make it back in 2 weeksish. – 12:54 AM Michael Lee @MrMichaelLee
This Khris Middleton news is a bummer of an ending for what was an exciting night of NBA playoff basketball. – 12:54 AM Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
Too many injuries in these playoffs already: Sprained MCL for Khris Middleton, Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer says. – 12:47 AM Joe Cowley @JCowleyHoops
Sounds like Middleton could be on the shelf for a bit. Portis and his eye is day-to-day. Defending champs on the ropes! – 12:47 AM Jamal Collier @JamalCollier
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said Khris Middleton has an MCL sprain. He’s scheduled for an MRI tomorrow – 12:46 AM Malika Andrews @malika_andrews
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer tells reporters that Khris Middleton sprained his MCL and will have an MRI on Thursday. – 12:46 AM Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
Bucks forward Khris Middleton has a sprained MCL in his left knee, coach Mike Budenholzer says. – 12:44 AM Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer just told reporters Khris Middleton suffered an MCL sprain tonight.
There will be further evaluation of the injury with an MRI. – 12:44 AM Justin Garcia @tmjgarcia
Khris Middleton has an MCL sprain per Coach Budenholzer – 12:42 AM Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
#Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer on Khris Middleton: “What I was just told on exam was an MCL sprain. We’ll get an MRI tomorrow.” – 12:42 AM Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
No Middleton, no Portis. Bulls almost have to win this game – 12:07 AM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Khris Middleton is out for the rest of the game due to left knee soreness, per the Bucks. – 12:06 AM KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Bucks are now without Middleton and Portis. – 12:06 AM Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
Khris Middleton is out for the rest of the game with left knee soreness for the #Bucks – 12:04 AM Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
Khris Middleton walked right to the #Bucks locker room. – 11:56 PM Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Middleton is hobbling a little bit after that play. Appeared to slip on the drive, but still found a low bounce pass assist to Lopez.
Stretching it out as Lopez takes the free throw. – 11:53 PM Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
Khris Middleton was slow getting up and is limping badly after taking a fall on that last basket by Brook Lopez. – 11:53 PM Rob Schaefer @rob_schaef
Bucks went on 15-2 run between 3:42 and 1:11 mark of Q3 to cut Bulls’ lead to 81-77. Giannis took over at both ends. Middleton 4-point play. Momentum was cresting
But Bulls responded in last 71 seconds to take 87-80 lead into fourth. Likely headed for another exciting finish – 11:42 PM Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Middleton and Antetokounmpo almost played every second of the third quarter and they scored 25 of the 28 points for the Bucks in the period.
Middleton had 13. Antetokounmpo had 12.
Bucks cut it down to 3, but it’s back up to seven. Bulls up, 87-80, heading to the fourth quarter – 11:41 PM Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
Khris Middleton picks up his fourth foul with 2.6 seconds left in the third quarter. – 11:40 PM Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
Khris Middleton completes a four-point play after drawing a foul on Vooch and the Bucks are now within four points.
14-2 run to close the gap and the quarter. – 11:36 PM KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Middleton 4-point play. Bucks on 14-2 run. – 11:36 PM Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Middleton with a chance at a four-point play after a couple buckets and blocks from Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have cut it down to four.
Bulls up, 81-76, with 1:30 left in the third quarter. – 11:34 PM Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Middleton is 3-for-3 from deep in the third quarter, but Lopez is 0-for-3 after a hot first half. Bucks not putting together enough stops and good offensive possessions to make a dent.
Bulls up, 77-63, with 4:05 left in the third quarter. – 11:24 PM Haralabos Voulgaris @haralabob
Caruso has Middleton in Jail. – 11:22 PM Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
Khris Middleton getting into a groove from 3-point range right now. Bucks inching closer to a single-digit deficit, but the Bulls have done well to stave off a third quarter run. – 11:21 PM Joe Cowley @JCowleyHoops
Bucks had to work so hard just to get that Middleton three. Great closeouts by Vooch and Zach. – 11:19 PM Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
Khris Middleton has attempted just four shots.
Jrue Holiday is 3-for-9.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is 5-for-11.
The bench is 1-for-6 and Bobby Portis hasn’t played since the first quarter.
The #Bucks have just 53 points with 7:50 to go in the third quarter. – 11:16 PM Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Just not a good night for Jrue Holiday. Middleton just found him on a slip and he missed the bunny down low.
Holiday has been forcing the drive a little bit here too in the first few minutes of the second half.
Bulls up, 69-53, with 7:50 left in the third quarter. – 11:15 PM Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Both Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo have picked up offensive fouls in the first 90 seconds of the first half.
Wesley Matthews missed two free throws as well. – 11:10 PM Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
Annnnddd the #Bucks open the second half with an offensive foul.
Khris Middleton picks up his third. – 11:08 PM Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton have eight of the #Bucks 10 turnovers thus far. – 10:47 PM Joe Cowley @JCowleyHoops
Khris Middleton is broken so far this series … – 10:41 PM Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
It’s hard to comprehend just how bad this first half would be without Wesley Matthews and Brook Lopez hitting a combined 6-of-7 from 3.
Holiday is 2-of-5 from the field with 3 TOs.
Middleton is 1-of-2 from the field with 3 TOs.
Bulls up, 51-45, with 3:23 left in the first half. – 10:41 PM Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
Khris Middleton has three turnovers thus far, after seven in Game 1. – 10:28 PM Joe Cowley @JCowleyHoops
Middleton forgot how to pass so far this series. – 10:27 PM Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Bobby Portis is down after that play. Looked like he took a shot to the face, but he’s back up and Khris Middleton forced a turnover down a man. – 10:14 PM Stephen Noh @StephNoh
If the Bucks are willing to switch Middleton onto DeRozan, that is going to be huge. DeRozan has struggled badly against Wes Matthews and Jrue Holiday. He got downhill much more easily against Middleton. pic.twitter.com/Gk7wh5VaWK – 10:12 PM Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Turnover from Middleton on the first possession. Turnover from Antetokounmpo on the second possession.
Turnover from Middleton on the third possession.
Not an ideal start for the Bucks. – 9:52 PM

More on this storyline

Chris Mannix: Bucks confirm Khris Middleton has a sprained MCL in his left knee. Next status update will come in two weeks, per team. -via Twitter @SIChrisMannix / April 21, 2022 Charles F. Gardner: Giannis expressed concern teammate Khris Middleton, who injured his left knee in the third quarter and will have an MRI on Thursday. “It’s tough. I know that feeling. You’re expecting the worst and hope for the best. He knows we are by his side… I’m going to pray for the best.” -via Twitter @cf_gardner / April 21, 2022 Bucks forward Khris Middleton sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee during the fourth quarter of Milwaukee’s 114-110 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, coach Mike Budenholzer said after the game. Middleton is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Thursday, which will determine the severity of the injury and give the team more information about a timeline for his return. -via ESPN / April 21, 2022