Per ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Milwaukee Bucks swingman Khris Middleton will return to the lineup on Sunday when the Phoenix Suns head to Fiserv Forum in what will be a star-studded affair.
Going 10-6 in their last 16 games, the Bucks have managed to navigate through the absence of one of their longtime core players. A 3-time All-Star, Middleton has missed that stretch while recovering from an ankle sprain he sustained on Feb, 6 against the Suns. However, although the Bucks have performed admirably, there’s the sense that Middleton is a player that they can’t replace.
Khris Middleton’s Return Date Revealed
Long an efficient 3-point threat, at his best, Middleton is a reliable go-to scorer. Injuries have somewhat diminished his ability to score in isolation, as he has become increasingly reliant on screens. Nonetheless, averaging 14.8 points in 26.3 minutes per game on 48.7 percent shooting from the field, Middleton is undeniably one of the better offensive threats in the league even outside of his prime years.
It’s not yet known whether Middleton will have a minute restriction. However, considering the severity of the injury it’s a possibility.
“I can’t think of an ankle sprain I’ve had this bad like this that I’ve had in the past,”
“I can’t think of an ankle sprain I’ve had this bad like this that I’ve had in the past Middleton says of the injury,” per Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “After it happened I tried to play, run it off a little bit. See if it was going to loosen up or whatever. Just didn’t. Didn’t feel comfortable. Went into the back, tried to get re-taped, and as soon as I took my shoe off it just blew up. So had to shut it down.”
Middleton sustained the injury in the first quarter, landing on the foot of Kevin Durant after he attempted a jumper, the Suns’ superstar in his landing zone. Middleton, as he says, tried to play through the discomfort he felt after the play. However, he would leave just a couple of minutes later.
40 days later, the quiet assassin will return.
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