Khris Middleton came off the bench to score eight points in 21 minutes and the Milwaukee Bucks won their second consecutive game after losing four of five, beating the San Antonio Spurs 121-105 on Wednesday night.
Coach Doc Rivers said before the game that Middleton's bench role against the Spurs had more to do with his health and a minutes restriction after he had bilateral ankle surgeries over the summer than his production on the court.
"It's just not improving to the place he wants it or we want it, so we just got to monitor," Rivers said about Middleton's health. "We're cutting his minutes back a little bit and just trying to make sure he gets through this."
Middleton, 33, was 2-of-7 from the field with one 3-pointer and added 5 rebounds and 3 assists in helping the Bucks to the comfortable win. He missed the first 21 games of the season after offseason surgery on both ankles. He has played in 13 games, making his season debut in early December, but had been in the starting lineup in his previous seven games before missing Monday's game in Toronto due to ankle tendinitis.
"I think it just makes us an even stronger team. Khris coming off of surgery and missing some time, we had to get settled a certain way," point guard Damian Lillard said.
"He's going to be in a position to do more in that second group and it also makes us that much better. ... It just gives you an opportunity where you don't have to have me and Giannis [Antetokounmpo] on the court one or the other hard time. You got another great player out there, and it's hell for the other team's bench to have to deal with. So I think it just makes us better and it just creates a lot of balance for us."
Taurean Prince took Middleton's place in the starting lineup. Antetokounmpo, Lillard and Andre Jackson Jr. were also in action after being listed on the injury report heading into the game.
Middleton is averaging 12.7 points, 5.0 assists and 4.4 rebounds in 23.8 minutes this season, but the Bucks have not found a consistent rhythm with him on the floor. Milwaukee is just 3-4 this season in games where Middleton has started.
However, Rivers said he has had too small of a sample to judge Middleton yet, especially while he's juggling limited playing time.
"The bottom line is just not moving every night the way you like to," Rivers said. "One night you see, moving great. One night, he's not. Minutes go up and down.
"It's just -- it's a tough go for him."