Milwaukee Bucks vs. Washington Wizards Preview: Visiting an old friend

Team won’t have to wait long to face Khris Middleton

With their post-All Star Break off to a positive start, the Milwaukee Bucks will look to maintain momentum in a road (SEGABABA) tilt against the Washington Wizards. Funny enough, it looks likely that tonight will also be Khris Middleton’s debut as a Wizard since being shipped out of Milwaukee a few weeks ago. The spectacle! The excitement! This league!

Where We’re At

It’s been an eventful few weeks, hasn’t it? With Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined for the stretch run into the All-Star Break, the Bucks managed to go 3-3 to retain position in the East’s playoff pecking order. An active deadline saw Khris Middleton depart and Kyle Kuzma (Washington homecoming alert!) arrive. To put a cherry on top, Bobby Portis got himself suspended for 25 of Milwaukee’s remaining 29 games. Last night, though, the group rose above the churn with Antetokounmpo back in the starting lineup in a 116-110 win over the visiting Clippers. That makes it two straight wins against Western Conference playoff teams and a 3-2 mark since the trade deadline. With both Giannis and Damian Lillard on minutes restrictions, the question tonight is how deep coach Doc Rivers goes in the bench to fill out a rotation.

For the Wizards, a ho-hum season of losing their rears off has continued apace. At 9-45 and losers of four straight, Washington was in no rush to push deadline acquisitions like Middleton or Marcus Smart into actual playing time before the break. Their last outing was a 130-134 (OT) defeat to the Indiana Pacers back on February 12th. Jordan Poole put up 42 points (on 29 shots), and the Wiz were able to grab a 19-point lead in the third quarter before doing the understaffed tanking team thing and eventually losing.

What matters for Bucks fans, though, is that Khris Middleton is available for Washington in what dramatists would label a “potential revenge game.” Find the courage to bear witness and weep:

Injury Report

After playing 33 minutes last night, Damian Lillard will sit this one out with right hamstring injury management. Giannis, however, is probable after returning from his left calf strain last night, as is Taurean Prince with a left ankle sprain. Bobby Portis will miss due to suspension.

Washington upgraded Anthony Gill (right ankle sprain) from questionable to available, with Malcolm Brogdon (left ankle sprain) and Saddiq Bey (continuing ACL surgery recovery) as out.

Player To Watch

I somehow always end up with the easy picks for this section. It’s Khris Middleton. For many, it’ll be a bittersweet moment as he takes the floor in an opposing uniform for the first time in over a decade. If you find yourself quietly cheering when he hits a few jumpers over Andre Jackson Jr., that’s okay. We’re only human.

How To Watch

FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 6:00 p.m. CST.

Playback Streaming

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