Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday has been upgraded to presumptive status and forward Khris Middleton will remain out for Friday night’s home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
According to Milwaukee’s injury report, Holiday and Pat Connaughton are listed with non-Covid ailments. As for Middleton, the three-time star is out indefinitely with a wrist injury.
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Tonight’s Bucks injury report has been updated.
Probable: Juror Holliday (Non-Covid)
Interviewer: Pat Connaughton (Non-Covid)Out: Joe English, Chris Middleton
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) November 25, 2022
In 13 games this season, Holiday is averaging 18.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 1.6 steals. He is also shooting 44.5% from the field and 32.1% from three-point range.
On October 29, in the Bucks’ 123–115 win over the Atlanta Hawks, the guard finished with a season-high 34 points in 37 minutes, along with 12 assists, four steals and one block.
Middleton also had surgery during the offseason to repair a torn ligament in his left hand. While the forward has yet to commit to the 2022-23 NBA season, the Bucks sent him to practice with the Wisconsin Herd, the team’s G League affiliate.
“He’s making progress, maybe steady and slow,” Bucs coach Mike Budenholzer said of Middleton. We will continue to see how he feels tomorrow. Hopefully he can do a little bit more every day.
Bucks guard Jrue Holiday is likely, while Khris Middleton is likely to be out against the Cavaliers on Friday.
In 66 starts last season, Middleton averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.2 steals. He also shot 44.3% from the floor and 37.3% from beyond the arc.
Similarly, Joe Ingles is in a similar position. During the offseason, the former Utah Jazz guard signed a one-year, $6.5 million contract with Milwaukee. But he still needs more time to recover from the knee injury.
Ingles has not played since last season. While at Utah, Ingles tore his left ACL in the Jazz’s 126–106 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 30, 2022.
Cleveland:
Out: Caris LeVert (ankle), Kevin Love (thumb).
Doubtful: Lamar Stevens (illness).
Milwaukee
Question: Pat Connaughton (Ill)
Probable: Juru holiday (pain) pic.twitter.com/o71jQhg7a1
— Cavs District (@Cavs_District) November 25, 2022
During the winter, when asked if Ingles would be back in the first few months of this season, Bucks GM Jon Horst said “something in that December timeframe, something in the January timeframe.”
Additionally, the Cavaliers are working around injuries. Kevin Love (thumb) and Caris LeVert (ankle) were sidelined for Friday night’s game. Not to mention, Ricky Rubio (knee) and Dylan Windle (ankle) are out indefinitely.
According to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, the Bucks have a 50.9% chance of beating the Cavaliers. Of course, Milwaukee is entering this contest as a four-point favorite at home.
