The Milwaukee Bucks will be without Khris Middleton for the near future as a result of a left leg injury.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the timetable for Middleton's return is “several weeks.”
Bucks All-Star forward Khris Middleton is expected to miss several weeks with a left leg injury, but no serious damage in the leg, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 11, 2019
The injury that Middleton suffered occurred during the Bucks' 121-119 comeback victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. He attempted to use a ball screen above the break after a shot fake, but Terrance Ferguson was late on his closeout and made contact with Middleton's leg.
Not having Middleton in the lineup will cause the Bucks to have to rely on reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo even more than they already do. Of course, he can't do it himself and there will need to be increased contributions from the team's wing rotation.
Giannis handled business yesterday.
35 PTS – 16 REBS – 68% shooting
(via @Bucks)pic.twitter.com/YoE9KdZ3gN
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 11, 2019
A likely outcome is that Sterling Brown and Pat Connaughton will experience an increase in their playing time while Middleton remains sidelined. Brown is the cleanest fit among the options that the Bucks have on their roster to start alongside Antetokounmpo, Eric Bledsoe, Wesley Matthews, and Brook Lopez.
So far this season, Middleton is averaging a respectable 18.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists. His scoring efficiency has improved from last season, as he is shooting 46.8 percent from the field, 39.3 percent from beyond the arc and 88.6 percent from the charity stripe.
The Bucks are currently 7-3 to start the 2019-20 season and are third in the Eastern Conference standings. They will need to persevere in Middleton's absence in order to stay tight with the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors in the standings over the course of the next few weeks.
More updates regarding Middleton's potential return to the Bucks' lineup are expected to come at a later time.