Milwaukee Bucks fans were glad to get Myles Turner back for Sunday's game against Toronto, but his return also came with a predictable drawback. Backup big Pete Nance, who saw 20-plus minutes in both of Turner's absences, barely touched the floor. That's to be expected, but it's also disappointing given how well he's been playing. Those opportunities will only dry up further once Giannis Antetokounmpo returns from a calf strain.
Nance minutes vanish with Turner back in the starting five
Inserting Turner back into the starting lineup also meant someone else taking a seat to make room. Naturally, that player was Jericho Sims, but head coach Doc Rivers still gave him 24 minutes off the bench compared to only five for Nance.
That said, it's hard to fault the decision to give Sims decent burn. On the defensive end, the Bucks surrendered critical offensive rebounds that turned into second-chance points for the Raptors. Sims is one of the few options to crash their own offensive glass. He grabbed seven boards total, including three on offense, and also blocked a shot.
Still, it hurts to see Nance get barely one-sixth of their combined playing time. In a win over New Orleans, he dropped 10 points and five rebounds in 22 minutes. He added two assists and a block and went 2-for-4 from distance. Among reserves, he finished second to Ousmane Dieng with a plus-5 in the box score.
Nance was similarly effective in Milwaukee's upset of the Thunder before the All-Star break. That night, he delivered 11 points on 3-for-5 shooting from long range, plus seven boards and two more assists. Throw in another block.
Nance has contributed consistently since being granted a regular role. Before Sunday, he had scored in double digits in six of 12 games. Since January, he had made 21 of 38 attempts beyond the arc (55.3 percent). Without a real chance to find his rhythm, he came up empty in the box score versus Toronto, missing his two triple tries.
For whatever reason, the Bucks have withheld their full commitment from Nance, limiting his reps and keeping him on a two-way deal as the March 4 deadline ticks closer. Part of his irregular role, of course, is due to the Dieng addition. Part of it is Rivers' inexorable stubbornness. In any case, it was hardly surprising to see Nance's opportunities go down the drain with Turner back in the mix.
Hopefully, against the odds, the Milwaukee Bucks can find a way to get him semi-reliable playing time down the stretch.