Milwaukee, WI

Khris Middleton nearing return

Published

2 years ago

March 11, 2024

This afternoon at 4:30 PM Central, the Bucks submitted their initial injury report for tomorrow evening’s game in Sacramento, and one very notable name is no longer listed as out:

The Bucks have submitted their injury report for Tuesday vs. the Kings.
Probable
Giannis Antetokounmpo (right knee tendinitis)
Questionable
MarJon Beauchamp (back spasms)
Khris Middleton (left ankle sprain)
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) March 11, 2024
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Ahead of the Lakers game on Friday night, Doc Rivers told assembled media that Middleton could play on Tuesday, and then even suggested that yesterday was a possibility. While that didn’t happen, it seemed likely that Middleton’s return from the left ankle sprain that’s kept him out since February 6th was imminent. Though he hasn’t experienced any setbacks, according to both Doc and Middleton himself, that didn’t stop pessimism about his health in both the near and long term. As expected, that was unfounded.

To be clear, Middleton’s injury was a lot more significant than most people believed. The Bucks are notoriously close-to-the-vest about their players’ injuries, with Middleton perhaps the prime example, so we never got public word about the sprain’s severity. It occurred when he landed on Kevin Durant’s foot, who had come into Middleton’s landing zone in Phoenix just over a month ago; after the game, the Bucks forward was in a walking boot and on crutches.

That seemed to indicate it was a bit more than the type of sprain that might make a player day-to-day and miss a game or three. As we’ve seen both this year and last, Giannis has popped up on the injury report with “ankle sprain” a few times but nevertheless played. Indeed, Rivers told us right out of the All-Star break that not only was Middleton doing well, but if it was the playoffs, he would be playing, suggesting it wasn’t too serious. But a couple weeks have elapsed since.

Late last week, Middleton spoke to the media—including The Athletic’s Eric Nehm—about the recovery process. Notably, he said “I can’t think of an ankle sprain I’ve had this bad like this” while also saying that his swelling was nearly gone, and he was just waiting for the last bit of it to subside, so he could “move freely without pain.” He also related how after he sustained the sprain and attempted to play on it, he went back to the trainer’s room, where his ankle swelled up like a balloon when he removed his shoe.

I’m no physician, but knowing all this and factoring in the crutches, this was probably a grade-two sprain. That’s typically anywhere from a four to six-week injury, and tomorrow would mark five weeks to the day since it occurred. If Middleton does play on Tuesday, that’s a pretty standard recovery time, and given how careful it seemed the Bucks were being throughout this process, he’s probably pain-free. Though he might not say he’s at 100%, especially with how the layoff likely affected his conditioning, he’s probably close enough.

With just over a month left in the regular season, Middleton will have ample time to work back to the workload he undertook prior: he averaged a hair under 30 MPG in January and was over 30 in every game that was not a blowout or the second night of a back-to-back, which he did once. Of course, there are no back-to-backs in the playoffs, but the Bucks do have one coming up next week before two more to begin April.

Moreover, Middleton has played just three games and eight minutes of a fourth since Rivers took over. To that end, the coach said on Friday that he may not have Middleton on much of a minutes restriction—if at all—since he hasn’t played much lately, so the reps will be important for both him and the team. We’ll see how much he plays in the coming games, but he may not be eased in quite as slowly as we saw after last year’s injuries. He also seems likely to rejoin the starting lineup, which is the NBA’s best five-man unit (minimum 300 minutes) with him in it. Yes, better than Denver or Boston’s starters.

Much has been made about Milwaukee’s defensive resurgence since Rivers took over, but also people are talking about the offense’s slip: they’re just thirteenth in offensive rating at 116.9 under Rivers after being top-two under Griffin. All but four of Doc’s nineteen games featured a healthy Middleton, who looked like a key to the Bucks’ success before his injury by the eye test. The advanced stats backed it up, as the offense was a full 4.4 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor this season (the defense happens to be 1.7 points per 100 better too). With his combination of secondary ballhandling, shot creation, and jump shooting, his return will likely make an immediate difference offensively.

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee judge calls out marijuana odor in courthouse

Published

10 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Milwaukee judge calls out marijuana odor in courthouse

A Milwaukee County judge on Thursday, Feb. 26, criticized the smell of marijuana inside the courthouse during a sentencing hearing, calling it inappropriate and illegal as visitors described the odor as common.

Posted February 26, 2026 9:30pm CST

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Bucks sign Cormac Ryan to two-way contract

Published

22 hours ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Milwaukee Bucks sign Cormac Ryan to two-way contract

The Milwaukee Bucks signed guard Cormac Ryan to a two-way contract for the remainder of the regular season.
Ryan will be ineligible to play for the Bucks during the postseason.
Ryan averaged 20.4 points per game for the G League’s Wisconsin Herd, shooting 42.3% from three-point range.

The Milwaukee Bucks rewarded Cormac Ryan for his strong G League season with the Wisconsin Herd by signing him to a two-way contract. That will allow Ryan, 27, the chance to finish out the regular season with the Bucks. He would be ineligible for postseason play, however.

Ryan joins former Dominican High School star Alex Antetokounmpo and Pete Nance on two-way deals. The Bucks now have a completely full roster, with 15 guaranteed contracts as well.

Ryan was originally signed by the team in the summer, when he played in five summer league games, before inking a training camp contract. He appeared in two preseason games.

Ryan then played 29 games with the Herd and shot 42.3% from behind the 3-point line to average 20.4 points per game. He shot 48.9% from the field overall.

Ryan, a 6-foot-5 guard, played at Stanford (2018-19), Notre Dame (2020-23) and North Carolina (2023-24) before going undrafted. He averaged 10.4 points per game in college on 35.2% 3-point shooting. He made 40.7% of his 3-pointers in 2021-22 at Notre Dame.

He initially signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Ryan did not make it out of training camp in 2024 but signed to the Thunder’s G League affiliate.

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Bucks injury report: Is Giannis playing tonight vs. Cavs?

Published

2 days ago

February 25, 2026

Press Room

Milwaukee Bucks injury report: Is Giannis playing tonight vs. Cavs?

The Milwaukee Bucks have an opportunity to steal a victory from one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, they host the tired and diminished Cleveland Cavaliers tonight at Fiserv Forum.

Cleveland (37-22), in contention for a top three seed, beat the New York Knicks on Feb. 24 in Ohio. After flying into Milwaukee after the game, the Cavaliers ruled out MVP candidate Donovan Mitchell and reigning defensive player of the year Evan Mobley. All-star James Harden is questionable to play.

One player who will suit up for Cleveland is point guard Dennis Schröder, who was acquired at the deadline from Sacramento. The 32-year-old is often a thorn in the side of the Bucks, and he scored 24 points in a Kings victory over the Bucks early in the season.

The Bucks are also playing on the second night of a back-to-back, though they slept in their own beds after beating Miami at home. They have won seven of their last nine games.

Milwaukee (25-31) remains out of the postseason picture entirely, however, sitting in 11th place in the East.

The Bucks have beaten teams with winning records in consecutive games only twice this season, with wins over Golden State and New York (Oct. 28-30) and Orlando and Oklahoma City (Feb. 11-12).

And, the Bucks also have struggled against teams that do not have their stars. They lost twice to Denver without all-stars Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray (and even more starters), lost to Minnesota without all-stars Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert and even Portland without starters Jrue Holiday and Shaedon Sharpe. They also lost to Philadelphia twice without Joel Embiid and Paul George on a minute limit.

Is Giannis playing?

No.

Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is still ramping up in his rehab from a Jan. 23 soleus strain in his right calf, which he self-diagnosed as a four- to six-week injury. Antetokounmpo has done “live” practice work with teammates and coaches after the team returned home from New Orleans beginning on Feb. 21.

Before the game against Miami, Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Antetokounmpo has not gone five-on-five but does not need to. Rivers also added the two-time MVP has not suffered any setbacks with the injury.

What is the Bucks record without Giannis?

10-16

Milwaukee is 15-15 when Antetokounmpo plays any number of minutes.

Cavaliers on hot streak since trading for James Harden

Cleveland, which was the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last year with 64 wins, doubled down its roster heading into this season with the most expensive team in the NBA. But, as the trade deadline approached in early February, the team had fallen short of expectations. So, they began shedding salary and talent, most notably homegrown all-star guard Darius Garland.

They shipped the injured 26-year-old to the Los Angeles Clippers for 36-year-old all-star guard James Harden and received an immediate boost, winning five straight and six of seven heading into the game against the Bucks.

But Harden did suffer a fracture in his right (non-shooting) thumb against the Knicks on Feb. 24.

Harden has been solid since arriving in Cleveland, averaging 18.9 points on 48.8% shooting from behind the 3-point line while also averaging 8.0 assists. His presence has rejuvenated all-star center Jarrett Allen, who has averaged 20.4 points on 76.7% shooting since the point guard’s arrival. Before Harden joining the team, Allen averaged 13.9 points on 60% shooting in his first 40 games.

Taurean Prince, out (neck surgery)
Giannis Antetokounmpo, out (right calf strain)

Milwaukee Bucks probable starters

Guards: Kevin Porter Jr., Ryan Rollins, AJ Green
Forward: Kyle Kuzma
Center: Myles Turner

Cavaliers injury report

Max Strus, out (left foot surgery)
Donovan Mitchell, out (right groin strain)
Evan Mobley, out (left calf injury management)
James Harden, questionable (right thumb fracture)

What time is the Bucks game?

Tip-off is schedule for 7 p.m. CT.

What channel is the Bucks game on?

The game will be simulcast locally on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin and WMLW The M with Lisa Byington, Marques Johnson and Melanie Ricks on the call.