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Chicago Bulls at Milwaukee Bucks: Game outlook for final encounter

By Ryne Prinz

Dec 31, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dribbles the ball around Chicago Bulls guard/forward Jimmy Butler (21) during the second half at United Center. The Bucks won 116-96. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dribbles the ball around Chicago Bulls guard/forward Jimmy Butler (21) during the second half at United Center. The Bucks won 116-96. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 21, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Khris Middleton (22) heads to the bench with a bloody lip during the second half of the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center. The Bucks won the game 93-90.Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Khris Middleton (22) heads to the bench with a bloody lip during the second half of the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center. The Bucks won the game 93-90.Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports /

Khris Middleton has fit back into the Bucks’ lineup splendidly

The Bulls haven’t played a full Milwaukee team all season. Their first three games against the Bucks took place before forward Khris Middleton had returned from injury. However, Jabari Parker absolutely crushed the Bulls.

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    • Parker has averaged 22.3 points per game against Chicago this season. He went down with another devastating knee injury in early February and will miss the remainder of the season.

    Khris Middleton’s first game back happened to be the same in which Parker was injured. Middleton, while maybe not as explosive a scorer as Parker, fits pretty well next to Giannis Antetokounmpo. He has a wide range of skills as an excellent shooter and defender, two areas in which Parker has struggled with early in his young career.

    During Milwaukee’s surge in the last three weeks or so, Middleton’s averaged 16.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He’s shooting 42.3 percent from 3 on four attempts per game in that stretch.

    The Bucks will still be generally tougher to defend, but maybe even more so with shooters like Middleton and former Bulls legend Tony Snell on the floor with Giannis, giving him more space to operate. The Bulls are notably bad at defending the 3-point line.

    Well, they’re pretty poor defending in general.

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