Bucks 2022 NBA Championship Odds Take Major Hit With Khris Middleton Sidelined Indefinitely Due to MCL Sprain

• Khris Middleton will be out at least two weeks after suffering MCL injury in Game 2 vs Bulls
• The Milwaukee Bucks’ title odds and odds to win the East have taken a hit
• See the latest updated odds, and if we think Milwaukee provides a value wager at these odds

We know that any major injury to Giannis is a death knell for the Milwaukee Bucks,

We’re about to find out if the defending NBA Champions will feel the same effect with the injury to Khris Middleton.

The all-star forward suffered a knee injury in the fourth quarter of their 114-110 loss in Game 2 of their opening round series against the Chicago Bulls.

On Wednesday night, it was announced Middleton suffered a sprained left MCL, and will be reevaluated in two weeks, which means he’s out the rest of the First Round.

Not surprisingly, the Bucks have faded in the futures market.

2022 NBA Championship Odds

Odds as of April 21th at FanDuel

Bucks Fade in NBA Title Odds

Entering their series with the Bulls, Milwaukee shared the third-best 2022 NBA Championship odds with the Boston Celtics at +600.

Following Middleton’s injury, they’ve fallen to sixth and have slid into a different betting tier, at +950.

Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Khris Middleton has an MCL sprain in his left knee and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, sources tell ESPN. Bucks will have to play without Middleton for the rest of this first-round series against Chicago.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 21, 2022

It happened in the fourth quarter of Game 2, as he was spearheading a second-half comeback after trailing the Bulls by as many as 18. After a quiet opening half, Middleton had started to find his groove, with 15 second-half points before sliding awkwardly in the post.

His injury is significant, as the sure-scorer plays the perfect wingman to all-world Antetokounmpo. Middleton averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists in the regular season, which included a 37.3% mark from downtown.

Khris Middleton knocks down the 3…AND-1 🎯

The @Bucks are rallying on TNT#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/hxekyP75zB

— NBA (@NBA) April 21, 2022

The scoring burden will need to absorbed by committee, as Antetokounmpo is already pumping in 30 points and 17 boards per game through two playoff games.

Jrue Holiday is averaging 15 points six rebounds and six assists, but he’s going to be occupied all series with trying to slow down either DeMar DeRozan or Zach LaVine.

Only positive for Khris Middleton is the left foot was sliding

This should limit the severity of the sprain pic.twitter.com/Huobn4ql0z

— Dr. Evan Jeffries, DPT (@GameInjuryDoc) April 21, 2022

This isn’t a deep Bucks roster. Pat Connaughton, Grayson Allen and Wes Matthews can bring some elements to the table, but none are in Middleton’s class.

Perhaps Jordan Nwora gets dusted off, but it’s more likely Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis (who did suffer an eye injury and played only six minutes in Game 2) will get the extra touches.

Odd to Win NBA Eastern Conference

Milwaukee Betting Outlook

The Bucks were solid in third at +275 to come out of the East, but they’ve drifted to to fourth with +410 odds.

Assuming Middleton’s injury was nothing catastrophic, this would be something the Bucks could absorb in any other playoff, but there are several factors that are  working against them in this postseason.

🚨 41 POINTS FOR DEMAR 🚨@chicagobulls 114@Bucks 109

18.9 remaining on TNT pic.twitter.com/Hf561aVjDF

— NBA (@NBA) April 21, 2022

Even with Lonzo Ball out for Chicago, the Bulls will not be an easy out the rest of the way this series. And that is the easiest part of this equation, considering the Bulls have just two wins in 16 games against the top-four seeds in the conference this season.

The other factor is their side of the draw. The way it’s shaping up at this moment, they’d be facing a Boston Celtics side that has neutralized a healthy Kevin Durant — what more with a less-than-100% Middleton to offer that important release valve for Giannis?

Ime Udoka on the Celtics defense on Kevin Durant: "With the physicality we've playing him with, we're going to give up some fouls. Now, 20 free throws is too much, but we're playing him really physically. That's how we want to defend him."

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) April 21, 2022

Should Milwaukee find their way into the East Finals, they’re staring at either Philly or Miami, who have each looked equal parts dominant early on in these playoffs.

There’s a value wager to be had if you believe Middleton gets healthy and slides  back onto the championship-level roster seamlessly. I just think the East is too unforgiving for any kind of slippage.