Is Khris Middleton playing tonight against Thunder? Latest on Bucks forward's availability for Emirates NBA Cup Final (Dec. 17)

Khris Middleton is ruled out for the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Cup Final against the OKC Thunder on Tuesday after being listed as probable earlier. The veteran forward missed the team’s practice on Monday as he continues to recover from a non-COVID illness.

Middleton, a three-time All-Star, played a role in the Bucks' 110-102 semifinal victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Coming off the bench, he logged 22 minutes, contributing six points, three rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block while shooting 2 of 7 from the field, including 1 of 5 from 3-point range.

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The former Texas A&M standout has already missed a substantial portion of the season, sitting out the Bucks’ first 21 games while recovering from offseason surgeries on both ankles.

Ahead of his season debut against the defending champions on Dec. 6, Khris Middleton candidly shared the challenges he faced during his rehabilitation, emphasizing the difficulty of recovering from surgeries on both ankles.

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"I think this one was definitely the hardest for me, just because I had two surgeries," Middleton said, as quoted by ESPN. "I was trying to be balanced on both feet, and not compensate for anything because that could lead to another issue.

"So I would say this was definitely the hardest thing to come back from, to just mentally, physically feel fine, feel fit, feel ready, feel confident in everything I have to do out there."

The Tokyo Olympics gold medalist has appeared in only four games this season, averaging 7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

Where to watch Milwaukee Bucks vs. OKC Thunder?

The NBA Cup Final between the Milwaukee Bucks and OKC Thunder is set for Tuesday, Dec. 17, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EST (5:30 p.m. PT).

The game will be broadcast live on ABC, while fans can also stream the action live via NBA League Pass and Fubo TV, though regional restrictions may apply.

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