Milwaukee Bucks big man Bobby Portis will be sidelined with a sprained right MCL and will be sidelined indefinitely.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis is expected to miss a minimum of two weeks with a sprained MCL in his right knee, sources told ESPN. Portis is expected to be re-evaluated within two weeks.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 25, 2023
Portis had to leave Monday’s game against the Detroit Pistons early because of the injury. Portis has a grade 2 sprain, according to Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, who cited a league source. Such an injury would usually come with a four to six week schedule.
Before this news, the Bucks were finally healthy. In that Pistons game, Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a five-game absence and Khris Middleton returned from an 18-game absence. Portis and Jevon Carter are the only players to have played in all 47 games for Milwaukee this season.
Without Portis, the Bucks will probably lean on Antetokounmpo more often when Brook Lopez is on the bench. The presence of Middleton, who has appeared in just eight games this season, makes that seem more feasible. There could also be more opportunities for reserve great Sandro Mamukelashvili. The team has veteran great Serge Ibaka, but they’re holding him in hopes of trading him.
This season, Portis has averaged 14.1 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 26.8 minutes. The Bucks are 30-17 and third in the East. They have an offense that ranks 23rd in the league in efficiency and a defense that ranks third.
Milwaukee is -260 away from winning their division according to Wisconsin sportsbooks, so losing Portis for a while won’t hurt their chances. The Cleveland Cavaliers are. second favorite to win the division, so this injury to Portis could help his chances a bit.
The Bucks face the Denver Nuggets tonight and are 10-point favorites according to Colorado sportsbooks. The Nuggets have been one of the best teams in the NBA, so this line may be too much in the Bucks’ favor.
