Milwaukee, WI
Khris Middleton nearing return
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
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.
Here’s a glance at Milwaukee’s Top 25 Restaurants selected by Rachel Bernhard
For the first time in five years, the Journal Sentinel presents Milwaukee’s Top 25 Restaurants, this year from new dining critic Rachel Bernhard.
These three Asian restaurants are joining Milwaukee’s restaurant scene soon.
Here’s a look at what we know about them:
Hmongfusion
Hmongfusion is opening at 8340 W. Appleton Ave. Its proposed opening date is Dec. 20, according to a Milwaukee business license application.
Hmongfusion, described as a fast-food restaurant with dine-in seating, will be located inside Pacific Produce, an Asian grocery store.
The restaurant will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to the application.
Hmongfusion will offer Thai and Lao salads, curry, pho, noodle dishes and rice dishes. Appetizers will include a variety of spring rolls and egg rolls.
Owner Delila Vang didn’t immediately return an interview request.
ZX Sushi
ZX Sushi will open at 823 N. 2nd St. with a proposed Jan. 31 opening date.
The restaurant will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily, according to a Milwaukee business license application.
It’s on the first floor of the Chalet at the River building, in the former space of Crab It Your Way MKE.
ZX Sushi is billed as all-you-can-eat sushi but also will serve bento boxes, ramen and other entrees. It’ll have a bar.
Owner Yulin Zheng, who also owns Fusion Poke restaurants in Milwaukee, didn’t immediately respond to an interview request.
Yang Kitchen
Yang Kitchen is planning to open in March at 8301 W. Silver Spring Drive, according to a Milwaukee business license application.
The restaurant, which will include a banquet hall in the basement, is in the location of the former Open Doors Learning Center.
The menu will include pho, pork belly and spring rolls, among other items.
MILWAUKEE — With the holiday season upon us, you may want to consider this hidden gem. Urban Sense is known for its beautiful fresh floral arrangements, but it offers so much more.
Located at the corner of 54th and West Vliet St., this modern floral and gift shop provides a one-stop shopping experience. I spoke with one of the owners, Chris Dobs, to find out what sets them apart.
Watch: Find one-of-a-kind items at Urban Sense
Find one-of-a-kind items at Urban Sense
“We really specialize in customer service, and I know a lot of businesses say that, but we really excel at it. If you’re planning a special event, we talk about the location and how many people are coming. If you’re buying a plant, we’ll discuss the sun’s location, what type of plant you’re looking for, and whether it’s high maintenance or low maintenance. With holiday decor, we’ll definitely go through and try to make it nice and special for you. Because Urban Sense is a sense of touch, sense of feel, sense of environment,” Chris said.
Watch: Shannons Sims & Cassandra McShepard learn to make holiday centerpieces
Shannons Sims & Cassandra McShepard learn to make holiday centerpieces at Urban Sense
In addition to flowers and plants, the shop offers a variety of unique gift items. Co-owner Daniel Block shops small business vendors to stock Urban Sense with things you can’t find locally, including lotion candles, the world’s softest socks, upcycled high-strung jewelry, and a large selection of German cuckoo clocks.
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Weddings are a huge part of their business, with about 50 to 60 per year. Daniel says, “What sets us apart is that we customize for each wedding event. We also don’t have budget minimums for wedding flowers; we just try to work within every budget.”
When you buy a plant, they will pot it for you and even re-pot your existing plants. And get this: “We get fresh Christmas trees cut literally the week before Thanksgiving. This year, we’re carrying Fraser Firs, and we also deliver them if you’d like,” Chris said. But it gets better: they will decorate the tree for you as well!
I told you this was a hidden gem.
For more information, click here.
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According to MLB Insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Milwaukee Brewers would love to add free agent first baseman Paul Goldschmidt this winter.
He wrote the following on Monday:
The Brewers would love to find a way to get former Cardinals All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt on their roster, and would have been all-in if first baseman Rhys Hoskins had opted out of his contract.
Hoskins did opt-in, meaning that the Brewers would need to do some roster gymnastics to find time for both guys at first base and designated hitter.
Goldschmidt would be a nice add to the offense, especially considering the team is widely expected to lose Willy Adames in free agency. Furthermore, since Goldschmidt was not issued a qualifying offer by the Cardinals, he won’t cost a draft pick on Milwaukee’s end, which is highly appealing.
A lifetime, .289 hitter, Goldschmidt has spent 14 years in the big leagues with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cardinals. He is a seven-time All-Star and a four-time Gold Glover. He won the MVP Award in the National League in 2022.
The Delaware native is coming off a year in which he hit .245 with 22 homers and 65 RBI. He posted a .302 on-base percentage. The Brewers are coming off a year in which they won the National League Central and advanced to the wild card round of the playoffs before losing to the New York Mets.
They have designs on staying atop the division, but losing Adames will be a big loss. Perhaps adding Goldschmidt can alleviate it.
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