Bucks' Khris Middleton to miss Game 7 against Celtics

Middleton, out with a left MCL sprain, hasn't played since Game 2 of the Bucks' first-round playoff series against the Chicago Bulls. 

Middleton has returned to practice, but a timetable for his return remains up in the air.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported that Middleton was likely out for Game 7 and that his future should the Bucks advance is murky. 

"Earlier this week, the folks I was talking to were giving me some optimism about Middleton playing this weekend, but that has not happened. That has not developed," Windhorst said Friday on ESPN's SportsCenter. "And now I would say there's pessimism about Sunday, and frankly, I have been told that even if the Bucks advance, the start of the conference finals, there'd be pessimism he'd be ready to start." 

However, there are more optimistic reports that Middleton could return for the conference finals if the Bucks can win Game 7 against the Celtics on Sunday. 

The three-time All-Star averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game for the Bucks in 66 appearances. Middleton has averaged 14.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game in two playoff games.