The Milwaukee Bucks did not only lose Game 2 to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night, but they also lost one of their best players due to injury. Khris Middleton was forced to exit the game with what has been diagnosed as an MCL sprain on his left knee.
NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN has now confirmed the inevitable. The Bucks will be forced to navigate the rest of the series without Middleton, who is now being ruled out for an indefinite period of time:
Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Khris Middleton has an MCL sprain in his left knee and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, sources tell ESPN. Bucks will have to play without Middleton for the rest of this first-round series against Chicago.
This is an undeniably huge blow for the Bucks not only in their opening-round series against the Bulls but quite possibly, for their hopes to defend their title this season. Knee injuries can be tricky and the fact that Middleton is set for more tests in a couple of weeks' time does not exactly bode well for his chances of returning in the immediate future.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks must not get ahead of themselves here, though. They must remain focused on the task at hand, which at this point, is defeating a formidable Chicago Bulls side in the first round. Unfortunately, they will need to attempt to do so without arguably their most important player behind Giannis.