The Milwaukee Bucks will have to go at least two more games without star forward Khris Middleton.
Middleton suffered an MCL sprain in his left knee during Milwaukee’s first-round series with the Chicago Bulls, and Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters Thursday that Middleton will miss Games 3 and 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Boston Celtics.
But Middleton’s availability beyond those two games is a whole other story.
Budenholzer didn’t completely rule out Middleton making a return at some point later in the series, only telling reporters, “We’ll see,” when asked if it was a possibility, per The Athletic’s Eric Nehm.
Middleton “continues to make steady progress” in his rehab, the Bucks said in a statement released Thursday. If healthy, Middleton, who tallied 20.1 points per game during the regular season, could give Milwaukee’s offense a jolt after it produced a season-low 86 points in a Game 2 loss.
While Middleton works his way back, the Celtics are dealing with their own injury issues to a key player, too.
