Three-time All-Star Khris Middleton is expected to make his season debut for the Milwaukee Bucks when they visit the Boston Celtics on Friday night.
Middleton, 33, underwent surgery on both ankles in the offseason. He practiced on Wednesday before Milwaukee’s seven-game winning streak was snapped with a 119-104 loss to Atlanta.
Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers mentioned that the veteran forward is frustrated by having missed the first 21 games of the season.
Last season, Middleton averaged 15.1 points per game in 55 appearances.
In Wednesday’s loss to Atlanta, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 31 points and 11 rebounds, while Damian Lillard added 25 points.
Despite missing two starters, the Celtics extended their home winning streak to six games with a 130-120 victory over Detroit on Wednesday. Boston played without Jayson Tatum (right knee) and Jrue Holiday (left knee).
Prior to Wednesday’s game, Boston coach Joe Mazzulla indicated that Tatum, who is listed as questionable for Friday, would likely miss only one game. Holiday has missed the last two games but is not listed on the injury report for Friday’s matchup.
Detroit made a season-high 20 three-pointers on 39 attempts, including four consecutive threes in the fourth quarter to cut a 20-point deficit to eight.
Jaylen Brown led the reigning NBA champions with 28 points, six rebounds, and nine assists.
Friday’s game will be the third meeting between the teams this season. The Celtics won the first two matchups, 119-108 at home on October 28 and 113-107 in Milwaukee on November 10.
