Khris Middleton scored eight points in 21 minutes off the bench, and the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 121-105 on Wednesday night for their second consecutive victory after losing four of their previous five.
Coach Doc Rivers stated before the game that Middleton’s bench role against the Spurs was due to his health and a minutes restriction following bilateral ankle surgeries over the summer, not his performance on the court.
“It is just not improving to the point where he or we want it to be, so we will have to keep an eye on it,” Rivers said of Middleton’s health. “We are cutting his minutes back a little bit and just trying to make sure he gets through this.”
Middleton, 33, went 2-for-7 from the field with one three-pointer, adding 5 rebounds and 3 assists to help the Bucks to a comfortable victory. Following offseason surgery on both ankles, he missed the first 21 games of the season.
He has appeared in 13 games, making his season debut in early December, but had been in the starting lineup for the previous seven before missing Monday’s game in Toronto due to ankle tendinitis.
“I believe it makes us an even stronger team. “With Khris coming off surgery and missing some time, we had to get settled in a certain way,” point guard Damian Lillard explained.
“He will be able to do more in that second group, which will help us improve even more. It just gives you the option of not having me or Giannis [Antetokounmpo] on the court at the same time. You have got another great player out there, and it is hell for the opposing team’s bench to deal with. So I believe it simply improves us and provides us with a sense of balance.”
Taurean Prince replaced Middleton in the starting lineup. Antetokounmpo, Lillard, and Andre Jackson Jr. were also in action despite being listed on the injury report before the game.
Middleton is averaging 12.7 points, 5.0 assists, and 4.4 rebounds in 23.8 minutes this season, but the Bucks have yet to establish a consistent rhythm with him on the court. Milwaukee is only 3-4 this season in games where Middleton has started.
However, Rivers said he has too small a sample size to judge Middleton yet, especially given his limited playing time.
“The bottom line is just not moving every night the way you like to,” Rivers told reporters. “You see, you are moving really well one night. One night, he is not. Minutes move up and down.
“It is just — it is a tough go for him.”