Just a week ago, Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers talked about Khris Middleton’s minutes crisis but in win against the Indiana Pacers, the mid-range expert insisted he will go all-in.
Middleton has played just 10 games so far after recovering from a bilateral ankle surgery that prevented him from starting the season.
He played almost 31 minutes against the Pacers and finished with 15 points, six rebounds, and seven assists.
Head coach Doc Rivers said it only happened because of the three-time All-Star’s insistence. He was about to remove him from the floor in the fourth even though the Bucks were still catching up.
He told me to.. I’m not going to swear, to something [about] the minutes today ‘I’ll go back in’
‘It was great though he said that. I said ‘Are you sure?’ He said ‘Yeah yeah I don’t care about minutes anymore tonight’. So that is good. I put him in. That tells you how competitive he is.
It was a great decision as Middleton was there to ice the game with a free throw to seal the win.
He kept the Pacers defense in check to let Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard play their game, both of whom hit crucial shots in the final two minutes.
Khris Middleton hates the Pacers
Nothing was said by the 33-year-old veteran but Bucks fans are quick to conclude that he only wanted to be on the floor because he hates the Pacers, too.
The Bucks and Pacers has a budding rivalry last season. One involved Giannis not getting the ball when he recorded his career-high 64 points against them. Lillard was also taunted by Tyrese Haliburton by stealing his ‘Dame Time’ celebration.
The Pacers also eliminated Milwaukee in the NBA Cup last year and then in the first round of the playoffs.
Middleton was the only one left in the last few games after both Antetokounmpo and Lillard went down on injury.
“khris really said “its personal” 😭 love him,” said one user.
“Khris also hates the Pacers 👏🏻,” said another.
Khris also hates the Pacers 👏🏻 https://t.co/qm8JqwdmCm
— Justin Wills (@itsjwills) January 1, 2025
On Khris playing 30 mins tonight for the first time this season Doc said Khris told him “Fuck the minutes I’m going back in”
If anyone is wondering how the Bucks feel about this Pacers team, let’s just say rivalries are alive and well in the NBA
— Alex Sage (@sage_alex) January 1, 2025
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