After a rousing victory over the Toronto Raptors in their last contest, the Milwaukee Bucks are back at it on Wednesday to face the San Antonio Spurs.
Both teams face question marks leading up to the opening tip, so let us analyze the injury reports for both sides.
Bucks injury report vs. Spurs
Probable: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Right patella tendinopathy), Andre Jackson Jr. (Back spasms) Khris Middleton (Bilateral ankle surgery management)
UPDATE Questionable: Damian Lillard (Left calf contusion)
Khris Middleton was the large question mark here. He missed the Toronto game due to what insider Chris Haynes called "ankle tendinitis." Initially, that second word put fear into the hearts of Bucks fans because that meant it may linger and keep him out longer, but all signs point to him getting back on the court after missing just one game.
After initially being left off the injury report entirely, Damian Lillard was added just hours before tip with a left calf contusion. This is unfortunate, as it initially looked like the Milwaukee Bucks would have a clean injury report for this game. Time will tell if Lillard goes.
Spurs injury report vs. Bucks
Out: Sidy Cissoko (G-League), David Duke Jr. (G-League), Harrison Ingram (G-League), Riley Minnix (G-League), Jeremy Sochan (Bilateral low back tightness)
The significant absence for San Antonio is Jeremy Sochan; the big man is the team's second-leading rebounder and third-leading scorer. Furthermore, Sochan is one of San Antonio's bigger bodies, and he may have helped in slowing down Giannis Antetokounmpo, a task that is already challenging when teams are at full strength. It will be interesting to see where they now turn.
Keys for the Bucks
The biggest objective for the Milwaukee Bucks will be slowing down Victor Wembanyama, the rising sophomore who is doing things few people have ever seen. What makes him so interesting is that at 7-foot-4, he can attack down low, but he's also more than capable of stretching to floor and knocking in triples to keep defenses on their toes.
San Antonio fits the mold of being one of the fast, young and energetic teams that have given the Milwaukee Bucks trouble this season. They will have to find a way to combat that, which starts with giving some of their own youth - AJ Green, Andre Jackson Jr. and Ryan Rollins - minutes. They are crucial in hanging with teams like this.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.