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Bucks' Khris Middleton makes his season debut against defending champion Celtics

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Bucks' Khris Middleton makes his season debut against defending champion Celtics
Sport

Sport

Bucks' Khris Middleton makes his season debut against defending champion Celtics

2024-12-07 12:37 Last Updated At:12:40

BOSTON (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton didn't have to wait long to test his body during his season debut against the Boston Celtics.

Within two minutes of checking into his first game since having offseason offseason surgeries on both of his ankles, Middleton was bodychecked to the floor on a foul by Boston's Sam Hauser.

“I love it. Get it out of the way,” said Middleton who had 11 points, five assists and three rebounds in 23 minutes of the Bucks' 111-105 loss on Friday night. “That's something that's been happening to me in play groups, 1-on-1 sessions, workouts. Just feeling that contact. Of course the contact was a little bit more during the game, but I needed to feel that and feel like what it is to be hit, fall down on the floor and not really worry about anything.”

Bucks coach Doc Rivers said the three-time All-Star would be on a minutes restriction, but Middleton wound up finishing the game after an illness sidelined Taurean Prince in the second half. Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is dealing with right patella tendinopathy, also played on his 30th birthday.

Though he acknowledged being winded multiple times, Middleton said he came through well physically.

“Everybody wants to start and everybody wants to finish games,” Middleton said. “I didn't get to start tonight, but I definitely was happy I got to finish the game. Just wish I could have executed a little better. I thougth I missed one shot that I normally hit. ... It was a ball game the whole time up until maybe the last two or three possessions.”

Middleton missed the Bucks' first 21 games this season. The 33-year-old appeared in 55 games last season and just 33 in 2022-23 because of injuries. Also, a knee injury forced him to miss the Bucks’ final 10 playoff games in 2022.

It was just the ninth time that Rivers, who took over as the Bucks' coach for the final 36 games last season, had the All-Star trio of Antetokounmpo, Middleton and Damian Lillard on the floor together. It was the 43rd time overall the trio shared the court.

“Every coach, you want your key guys, and the more games you have them the better,” Rivers said. “Every time we can get them on the floor in a practice. Every time we can get them on the floor in a game and it’s him, Giannis and Dame — it’s going to help our team grow. That’s where we’re behind with other teams who have had their key guys play together. It will come. It’s just going to take a minute.”

Rivers acknowledged it would be tough working Middleton back into the rotation. The Bucks opened the season 2-8, but entered Friday having won nine of 11 since a 113-107 loss at Boston on Nov. 10.

“It's not easy, obviously," Rivers said. “It's whatever amount of games into the season, but I still want him back. Whatever the minutes are, we're going to use them all up.”

Though the Bucks lost for the third time to Boston, Middleton said the game was something to build on.

“They’re a great team. We want to get back to where they were last year," Middleton said. "It’s just about putting our best foot forward and trying to be the best team. We’re not worried about anything else really.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) drives to the basket past Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) drives to the basket past Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) reacts to a call during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) reacts to a call during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton, center, sits next to guard Damian Lillard, left, during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game against the Miami Heat, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton, center, sits next to guard Damian Lillard, left, during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game against the Miami Heat, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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Alex Bregman and the Red Sox finalize a $120 million, 3-year contract

2025-02-16 01:19 Last Updated At:01:20

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Alex Bregman and the Boston Red Sox finalized a $120 million, three-year contract on Saturday.

Bregman gets a $5 million signing bonus, a $35 million salary this season and $40 million in each of the following two years, with some of the money deferred. He can opt out after the 2025 and 2026 seasons to become a free agent again.

He is likely to shift from third base to second with the Red Sox, who already have All-Star slugger Rafael Devers at the hot corner.

“A huge addition,” said shortstop Trevor Story, who considered playing for the Houston Astros before he signed with Boston three years ago. "A guy that’s won, brings a certain amount of intensity to our clubhouse and some leadership.

“I've known Alex. We've gotten close over the last few years. It was cool because he was kind of recruiting me to Houston, and now the roles had reversed. I was recruiting him pretty hard to come here. It's great to see that we got it done."

Bregman took some swings in batting practice, fielded grounders and signed autographs on Saturday.

The Red Sox plan to formally introduce him at a news conference on Sunday.

Boston placed left-hander Patrick Sandoval on the 60-day injured list to open a roster spot. Sandoval is recovering from internal-brace surgery on his UCL last June 26.

The 30-year-old Bregman, a two-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion during nine years with Houston, is coming off one of his poorest offensive seasons. He hit .260 with 26 homers and 75 RBIs in the final season of a $100 million, five-year contract, also winning his first Gold Glove.

Bregman has 19 postseason home runs, tied for sixth in major league history. He was selected by Houston with the second overall pick in the 2015 amateur draft, made his big league debut a year later and hit .284 with 19 homers, 71 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 2017.

He had four homers and 10 RBIs in the postseason as the Astros won their first World Series title, a championship marred when a Major League Baseball investigation revealed the team used banned electronics to steal opponents’ signs.

Bregman was fifth in AL MVP voting in 2018 and second to Mike Trout in 2019, Bregman’s two most productive years at the plate. He batted .286 with 31 homers, 103 RBIs and a major league-leading 51 doubles in 2018, then set career highs the following season with a .296 average, 41 homers, 112 RBIs and a major league-leading 119 walks.

He walked just 44 times last year with a 23.6% chase rate, his highest since 2017.

Bregman has a .272 average with 191 homers and 663 RBIs in nine big league seasons.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

FILE - Houston Astros' Alex Bregman celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox, File)

FILE - Houston Astros' Alex Bregman celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox, File)

FILE - Houston Astros' Alex Bregman flips his bat after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox, File)

FILE - Houston Astros' Alex Bregman flips his bat after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox, File)

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