Bucks wing Khris Middleton exited Game 2 of Milwaukee's first-round matchup with the Bulls after suffering a knee injury.
Middleton went down midway through the fourth quarter and left the game shortly after. The Bucks initially called it "left knee soreness," announcing that he would not return for the remainder of the game.
Khris Middleton will not return to tonight's game with left knee soreness.
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 21, 2022
Middleton was sidelined for the rest of Milwaukee's first-round series against Chicago and has yet to play in the second round against Boston.
When will Middleton return? Here's everything we know about his injury and recovery.
MORE: Why Game 7 of Bucks vs. Celtics will be a classic
What is Khris Middleton's injury?
Middleton injured his knee in the fourth quarter of the Bucks' 114-110 Game 2 loss as he drove baseline on Bulls guard Alex Caruso. As he planted his left leg on the spin, it slid from underneath him.
He was slow to get up and left the game shortly after, with Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer confirming postgame that he had suffered a sprain in the medial collateral ligament (MCL) of his left knee.
Here is the video of Middleton's injury:
Only positive for Khris Middleton is the left foot was sliding
— Dr. Evan Jeffries, DPT (@GameInjuryDoc) April 21, 2022
This should limit the severity of the sprain pic.twitter.com/Huobn4ql0z
Middleton exited the game with 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting, adding eight assists and five rebounds.
How long will Khris Middleton be out?
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported before the second round began that Middleton was expected to miss Milwaukee's entire series against Boston. Additionally, it sounds possible that he could miss some of the Eastern Conference Finals should the Bucks advance.
The left MCL injury of Bucks All-Star Khris Middleton is a Grade 2 sprain and he is expected to miss the entire second-round series vs. Celtics, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The recovery of Grade 2 MCL places a potential Conference Finals in jeopardy for him as well.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 28, 2022
On May 5, the Bucks announced that Middleton "continues to make steady progress on his left knee injury rehabilitation and additional updates will be provided as appropriate." When asked if there was a possibility Middleton would play in Games 3 and 4, Budenholzer responded, "No."
Middleton was also ruled out for Games 5 and 6. And on the eve of Game 7, it was revealed that he won't play.
Same injury report for tomorrow’s Game 7.
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) May 14, 2022
OUT:
Khris Middleton (left MCL sprain) https://t.co/nfgQmbdPtj
Bucks vs. Celtics schedule, results
Having finished the regular season with a better record, the Celtics will host Game 7.
| Date | Game | Time / Result | Location |
| May 1 | Game 1 | Bucks 101, Celtics 89 | TD Garden |
| May 3 | Game 2 | Celtics 109, Bucks 86 | TD Garden |
| May 7 | Game 3 | Bucks 103, Celtics 101 | Fiserv Forum |
| May 9 | Game 4 | Celtics 116, Bucks 108 | Fiserv Forum |
| May 11 | Game 5 | Bucks 110, Celtics 107 | TD Garden |
| May 13 | Game 6 | Celtics 108, Bucks 95 | Fiserv Forum |
| May 15 | Game 7 | 3:30 p.m. ET | TD Garden |