Milwaukee ( Associated Press) — Khris Middleton will miss at least the Milwaukee Bucks’ next game with a sprained medial collateral ligament after injuring the Chicago Bulls in the fourth quarter of their Game 2.
The Bucks announced Thursday that the three-time All-Star would no longer be available for Game 3 of the first-round playoff series Friday night in Chicago.
Exactly how much time will Middleton miss remains uncertain. As the defending champion Bucks spoke after the game on Wednesday night, they prepared for the possibility that they could miss Middleton for a crucial time.
“You feel for him,” said Bucks guard Wesley Matthews. “Chris is a big part of this team, this organization, this city.”
Middleton walked into the locker room with 6:49 in the Bucks’ 114-110 loss. When he tried to plant on the spin move, his left leg got out.
Bucks injury report for Friday’s game does not include forward Bobby Portis, There is an indication that he should be available to play after missing the majority of Game 2 with a right eye abrasion. Portis struck one in the face of Chicago’s Tristan Thompson at the end of the first quarter as both players were going after a rebound.
Milwaukee will not have Reserve Guard George Hill, Who has still not played in this series due to abdominal strain.
The Bucks have gone through this situation before, having dealt with a knee injury to one of their top players during the playoffs. Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo amputated his left knee In Game 4 of last season’s Eastern Conference Finals with the Atlanta Hawks.
Antetokounmpo missed the last two games of that series but returned for the next round and was named MVP. About the Bucks’ NBA Finals Victory Over the Phoenix Suns.
As he discussed Middleton’s injury on Wednesday, Antetokounmpo said he could understand what his team-mates were going through.
“It’s tough,” Antetokounmpo said. “I know how that must be feeling. You don’t want to listen to anyone. You don’t want to talk to anyone because you really don’t know what it is. Tomorrow you’re expecting the worst, hoping for the best At the end of the day, he knows we’re with him. I don’t need to tell the media. He knows he’s my brother no matter what. We need to win him over. We’re going to pray Well, I’m going to pray for the best and hope it’s not too bad and he can join us, because we need him.
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