The Milwaukee Bucks are on a roll. After a concerning start to the season, the Wisconsin squad has climbed to fifth in the Eastern Conference by winning nine of its last eleven games. They also just got positive news to help them move on from Wednesday’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
According to ESPN reporter Bobby Marks, Khris Middleton will make his season debut this Friday against the Boston Celtics. The forward was cleared to play on November 20 but didn’t feel entirely ready after undergoing surgery on both ankles during the offseason.
Middleton, 33, and a three-time All-Star, has been hampered in recent years by injuries that have forced him to miss 97 games since the start of the 2022–23 campaign. His scoring average has also fallen to 15.1 points per game after he surpassed 20 in four of his previous five seasons. He still has one more year left on his contract, which includes a $34 million player option.
In his absence, Taurean Prince has filled in as the starting small forward, offering a steady threat from beyond the arc. Prince is averaging 9.0 points while hitting 55.6% of his three-point attempts on 3.9 tries. It will be interesting to see how Doc Rivers handles Middleton’s return. He was used off the bench 14 times two seasons ago, but, overall, he has been a mainstay in the starting lineup since he was acquired from Detroit in 2013.
