NBA

Khris Middleton to sit out semi-finals against Boston

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Milwaukee forward has suffered a Grade II sprain to his left knee - a more serious injury than first thought.

Stacy RevereAFP

Some bad new for the Milwaukee Bucks. Khris Middleton is certain to miss Sunday’s Eastern Conference semi-final against the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden - the latest medical update on his knee injury painted a pessimistic outlook.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the sprained knee which Middleton suffered in Game 2 of the First Round against the Chicago Bulls, is category Grade II - a more severe injury than medical staff had initially estimated, and that means he faces longer on the sidelines and will play no part in the game against Tatum and Co.

Middleton, key for the Bucks

Losing Middleton to injury is a body blow for the current NBA champions. He is one of the league’s big stars and alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday, one of the three buttresses which carry the Bucks. This season he has averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists in the 66 games he has played. Before he was forced out of the Chicago game, his figures in the playoffs were 14.5 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists on average.

Secondly for the opponents that Milwaukee will be up against. After a disastrous start to the campaign, the Celtics bounced back to become serious candidates for the ring following a magnificent 2022. Boston’s qualities include a cast-iron defence - one of the best in the league and a Jayson Tatum who is at MVP level. And he couldn’t better accompanied - Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Robert Williams, Daniel Theis

A group of players who brushed aside a monumental Brooklyn Nets side including Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving 4-0 - which demonstrates the Celtic’s capacity to control a series from start to finish.

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