Milwaukee Bucks look for more from reunited star trio in NBA match-up with Brooklyn Nets

NEW YORK – Other than the eventual defeat, Khris Middleton enjoyed everything about his season debut for the Milwaukee Bucks as he played with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard for the first time this National Basketball Association (NBA) campaign.

On Dec 8 (Dec 9, Singapore time), Middleton and the Bucks turn their sights on the Brooklyn Nets, to whom they lost 115-102 in the first week of the season.

Middleton missed the first 21 games following an arduous rehab from off-season surgery on both ankles, and it remains to be seen if he will feature against the Nets.

He was limited to 55 games last season and appeared in 33 games in 2022-23 because of a wrist injury and knee issues after missing Milwaukee’s final 10 post-season games in 2022 with a knee sprain.

The three-time All-Star scored 11 points in 23 minutes in the 111-105 road loss to the Boston Celtics on Dec 6.

In Milwaukee’s third loss to the Celtics this season, the 33-year-old shot two of 10 and missed all six of his attempts in the second half when the Bucks were outscored 58-48.

“We’ll get better,” Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers said.

“Khris got great shots he didn’t make. So there’s a lot of good things that came out of the game.

“Every coach, you want your key guys, and the more games you have them the better. Every time we can get them on the floor in a practice... every time we can get them on the floor in a game and it’s him, Giannis and Dame – it’s going to help our team grow.”

Middleton, meanwhile, was glad to get his season up and running.

“Everybody wants to start and everybody wants to finish games. I didn’t get to start (against Boston), but I definitely was happy I got to finish the game,” he said.

“Just wish I could have executed a little better. I thought I missed one shot that I normally hit.”

Ahead of the clash in Brooklyn, the Bucks (11-11) are coming off consecutive losses for the first time since Nov 8-10 when they lost to the New York Knicks and Celtics.

Before a 15-point loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Dec 4 and falling short in Boston, they had won seven straight.

Brooklyn are returning to the floor after their 99-90 home win over the Indiana Pacers on Dec 4.

Before beating the Pacers, the Nets (10-13) lost three straight, including a 23-point home loss to the Orlando Magic on Nov 29 and a 26-point road loss to the Chicago Bulls on Dec 2.

Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernandez described the loss at Chicago as “non-competitive”, but the Nets regrouped against the Pacers with one of their best defensive showings all season.

Along with allowing under 100 points for the first time this season, their improved defence allowed a season-best 42.7 per cent from the field along with a season-best 24.2 per cent from three-point range (eight of 33).

“Guys did a great job flying around, pressuring the ball, making it difficult,” Brooklyn’s Cameron Johnson said. “I got to give credit where credit is due to everybody who stepped up, stepping up on the defensive end.”

Now, it is up to the Bucks to break that defence. REUTERS