Lakers vs. Bucks Friday NBA injury report, odds: All-Star Khris Middleton set for season debut

The first game of ESPN's NBA doubleheader on Friday is a good one as LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers visit Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in a matchup of former MVPs. While watching those two go head-to-head is intriguing enough, the bigger story is the season debut of Bucks All-Star guard Khris Middleton. Milwaukee opened as a 7-point favorite at Caesars Sportsbook.

Middleton, 31, hasn't played since he sprained his MCL in Game 2 of the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs last season. The Bucks would lose in seven games to the Boston Celtics – this writer believes Milwaukee would have won the East with a healthy Middleton. He also had surgery in July to repair torn ligaments in his wrist. The three-time All-Star averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists last season.

The 20-game absence is Middleton's longest in the regular season since losing the first 56 games of the 2016-17 season following a hamstring tear.

"It feels like a shortened offseason with a training camp combined," he said of the last month-plus. "Not necessarily rushing but just trying to take advantage of every opportunity I have to get on the court to kind of go through the process of what my body needs to prepare itself for an NBA season."

Despite not having their Big Three of Antetokounmpo, Middleton and Jrue Holiday fully assembled yet, the Bucks are second in the East at 15-5 and on a three-game winning streak. Over his last five games, Antetokounmpo, who is currently fourth in the NBA in scoring (career-high 31.3 points per game) and fifth in rebounding (11.5 rebounds per game), is averaging 35.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists while shooting 59.1% from the field. His streak of five straight 30-point games is one shy of a career high. Giannis is a +280 third favorite at Caesars to win a third career MVP.

The Bucks have the top defensive rating in the league (106.5), are giving up just 107.4 PPG (third), holding opponents to 44.6% shooting from the field (second) and 11.5 made 3-pointers per game (tied for sixth). Milwaukee has won its past three against the Lakers.

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