Milwaukee guard Damian Lillard sat out the game against the host Phoenix Suns on Tuesday due to a sprained left ankle, and the Bucks lost Khris Middleton to an ankle injury early in the contest.
Lillard apparently was bothered by the ankle while scoring just 12 points in Milwaukee’s loss to the Utah Jazz on Sunday. Lillard made just 5 of 18 shots in Salt Lake City.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers said during his pregame media session that Lillard wanted to play against Phoenix.
“Obviously, if it was a playoff game, he would play,” Rivers said. “Losing Dame for this team is a big one because Dame brings the ball up.”
Lillard is in his first season with the Bucks after being acquired in an offseason deal with the Portland Trail Blazers. He is averaging 24.9 points and 6.8 assists through 47 games.
Middleton exited with 3:57 left in the first quarter due to a sprained left ankle. He was injured while shooting midway through the first quarter when Phoenix’s Kevin Durant landed on his foot. Durant was given a flagrant foul 1 for encroaching on Middleton’s landing space.
Middleton had six points and three rebounds in eight minutes.
–Field Level Media
