Despite their second-seed rank in the East, the Milwaukee Bucks are having it rough lately. Before the 114-105 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, the Bucks fell by a huge margin of 35 points to the Sacramento Kings. However, the recent injury update might raise their spirits a little before they face the Phoenix Suns on Sunday at home.

Their third offensive weapon, Khris Middleton, is expected to return to the lineup 40 days after spraining his left ankle against the same team, the Phoenix Suns. “Hopefully, nothing happens, knock on wood. But I expect to be playing tomorrow,” Middleton told The Athletic’s Eric Nehm after the Bucks’ practice today.

Middleton has been out of action since Feb. 6, when he rolled his ankle after landing on Kevin Durant’s foot with 6:08 remaining in the first quarter, causing him to miss 16 games. This injury comes on the heels of his offseason knee surgery, which led him to begin the season on a minute restriction.

Khris Middleton’s stats this season

The 32-year-old has been an effective piece in the lineup. However, his recent injuries have taken a toll on him in recent years. Out of a possible 51 games through February, Middleton has played in only 43. He is averaging 14.8 points per game, his lowest output since 2016–17, on 26.3 minutes per game. Additionally, he has contributed 5.0 assists and 4.3 rebounds on 48.7/37.8/83.2 shooting splits per game so far this season.

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Middleton has been impressive against Phoenix in his career, posting 20.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in the 19 games he has played against them. However, in their first meeting, he was able to muster only 6.0 points and grab one rebound before leaving the arena in walking boots and crutches. The Bucks eventually lost the game with a scoreline of 106–114. However, Middleton’s return to the lineup could provide a major boost to their offense.

During Middleton’s recent absence, the Bucks managed a respectable 10-6 record, but their offense noticeably struggled without him on the court. The Bucks’ offensive rating is 122.9 with him in the lineup this season, compared to their 118.1 rating when he is not playing. Moreover, their effective field goal percentage plummets to .565 from .581 in Middleton’s absence. However, his return comes at the perfect time, as the game against the Suns offers him a chance to ramp up before the Bucks take on the league heavyweights, the Boston Celtics.

Now that Khris Middleton is expected to return, do you think the Milwaukee Bucks can make a deep run into the postseason this year? Let us know in the comments!