Rolling Bucks get positive news on injury front

The Bucks (9-9) have won seven of their last eight games, including five in a row, after starting their season with a 2-8 record. Amid their turnaround, the Bucks are set to receive a huge shot in the arm in the form of Khris Middleton's imminent return.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Middleton participated in full five-on-five scrimmages on Monday and the franchise expects him to make his season debut "at some point after Thanksgiving." The report added that Monday marked the first time the three-time All-Star participated in five-on-five after undergoing surgeries on both his ankles in the offseason. Charania noted that Middleton has been "medically cleared to play for some time now" after ramping up his on-court activity in recent weeks and participating in several 3-on-3 practice drills. 

The Bucks can't be blamed for not rushing Middleton back despite him receiving medical clearance. The veteran wing missed a combined 106 games over the last three seasons due to various lower body injuries. He blew out his MCL in the 2022 postseason and continued to deal with knee and ankle issues in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. 

Middleton's inability to stay healthy is one of the reasons oddsmakers and analysts alike no longer consider the Bucks a title contender or a threat to the Celtics or Knicks. That said, if Middleton can return to even 75 percent of the player he was during Milwaukee's 2021 title run, the team will get a serious reinforcement to plug next to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.

Per the post-Thanksgiving return timeline, the Bucks could get Middleton back as early as this weekend or next week. Milwaukee has an easy slate of upcoming games against the Wizards, Pistons and Hawks before it runs into the juggernaut Celtics next Friday. Perhaps the game against the Pistons next Tuesday could be the perfect setting for Middleton's comeback.