“Had bad games when I was completely healthy”: Khris Middleton looks back on dark times amid injury recovery
Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton contributed to his team's 110-102 NBA Cup semifinal victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night. Following the game, Middleton addressed questions about his performance since returning from a lengthy injury absence.
Despite being on a minutes restriction, Middleton's numbers have been slightly below his typical standard. He was asked about it during the postgame presser, and he seemed confident in his ability to bounce back.
"Just understanding it's part of the process," Middleton said (1:40). "You know, I just got to keep continuing to push myself. Keep continuing to play. I've had bad games when I was completely healthy. It's going to happen."
Khris Middleton had a subdued outing against the Hawks, scoring six points, dishing out four assists and grabbing three rebounds. He acknowledged the performance was subpar but expressed confidence in his ability to improve.
"So, tonight, you know, you got to own it. I was bad," he said. "Wasn't you know up to my standards. But rebound from it, learn from it. You watch film, you figure out how to be better. You move on from it. Understanding that you're not going to have a great day every game."
The three-time All-Star made a solid return to the court after recovering from bilateral ankle surgeries. In his four games back, he has averaged 7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
Additionally, his shooting averages have dropped to 25.9% on the field and 25.0% from beyond the arc.
What's next for Khris Middleton and the Milwaukee Bucks?
Khris Middleton and the Milwaukee Bucks have secured a spot in the NBA Cup final. The Bucks will face the OKC Thunder, with a $500,000 prize on the line. After rebounding from a slow start to the season, the Bucks are poised to make a strong push.
The Bucks hold a slight edge in their upcoming matchup against the Thunder, based on their past head-to-head record. However, the Bucks' success will heavily depend on the performance of star player Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 31.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists in the NBA Cup this season.
The game tips-off on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. EST (5:30 p.m. PT) from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It will air on ABC and can be live streamed on FuboTV.