Khris Middleton has pretty much put the Milwaukee Bucks on his back ever since Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard were both sidelined due to respective injuries. In Game 5 on Tuesday, Middleton showed an unshakeable resolve as he led the Bucks to a season-saving 115-92 win to cut down the series deficit to 3-2.
It goes without saying that without Middleton, it’s very much possible that Milwaukee would have been on vacation by now.
Milwaukee Bucks News: Doc Rivers Heaps Praise on Khris Middleton
![Milwaukee Bucks: Doc Rivers Sounds Off on Khris Middleton's Rise Amid Giannis, Damian Lillard Injuries 1 Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, NBA Playoffs, Tyrese Haliburton, Bobby Portis, Khris Middleton](https://wisportsheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/USATSI_23122525-scaled.jpg)
On Tuesday night, Middleton went off for a game-high 29 points (tied with Bobby Portis) to spearhead Milwaukee’s demolition job of the Pacers at the Fiserv Forum. Over his last three games, the three-time All-Star has produced averages of 32.0 points on 47.9 percent shooting, 10.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists, while also knocking down 2.7 triples per game on a 40.0 percent clip.
To say that Middleton has stepped up in a major way amid the team’s injury woes would be an understatement. Head coach Doc Rivers could not agree any more:
“He’s been amazing,” Rivers said after Tuesday’s win, via Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “On both ends too. But he has the ability to score. He knows how to play-make as well. He really, in a lot of ways, even though one of the guards would come off of him, he was setting up everyone tonight. So, Khris was — on both ends, played a lot of minutes, wanted to stay in — he gave us everything tonight.”
![Milwaukee Bucks: Doc Rivers Sounds Off on Khris Middleton's Rise Amid Giannis, Damian Lillard Injuries 2 Milwaukee Bucks, Doc Rivers](https://wisportsheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/USATSI_22876334_168400517_lowres-1-scaled.jpg)
More of the same will be expected from Middleton on Thursday night, especially with Giannis and Lillard doubtful to suit up for Game 6. It’s going to be a gargantuan task, no doubt, but it is clear that Middleton is more than capable of carrying the Bucks to what could be an unlikely series win.
![Milwaukee Bucks: Doc Rivers Sounds Off on Khris Middleton's Rise Amid Giannis, Damian Lillard Injuries 3 Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton, NBA Playoffs](https://wisportsheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/USATSI_23153106_168400517_lowres-scaled.jpg)
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