© Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Doc Rivers provides an update on Khris Middleton's injury status
Coach Doc Rivers disclosed that Khris Middleton has already missed five straight games and is not expected to return anytime soon.
Middleton will continue to sit out despite the long break caused by the All-Star Weekend. The veteran shooter did not even join the Milwaukee Bucks practice in Minnesota a day before their match-up against the Timberwolves on Friday.
Khris is not 100% fit yet
Rivers said Khris’ sprained ankle that he sustained in a 106-114 loss to the Phoenix Suns on February 6th has yet to heal fully.
“It’s just the ankle, it’s getting better, it feels great, he just doesn’t feel 100%,” Rivers said.
Rivers said Middleton will also likely miss Milwaukee’s game against the Philadelphia Sixers on Sunday. The veteran coach, however, assured that Khris’ continued absence does not pose a serious concern, emphasizing that the All-Star forward is just being given ample time to recover from the injury.
“Clearly, playoff game he could clearly play. But, no. It’s too early. No reason to worry about it or panic about it,” said Rivers.
Critical absence
Khris has already missed six of the ten games the Bucks played under Rivers. He has not played in the last five games due to the ankle injury.
In the 43 games that he played this season, Middleton is averaging 14.8 points, 5.0 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per contest while shooting 37.8% from three-point range. Khris’ injury came just as the Bucks need victories due to a rough stretch they are currently going through.
The Bucks are 35-21 on the season but are just 3-7 under Rivers and have lost their last two games. Milwaukee has recently signed Danilo Gallinari and Ryan Rollins, two free-agent acquisitions that the Bucks can utilize while awaiting Middleton’s return.
