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The best of Khris Middleton with the Milwaukee Bucks (including some truly elite buzzer-beaters)
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- The best of Khris Middleton with the Milwaukee Bucks (including some truly elite buzzer-beaters)
Khris Middleton will go down as quite possibly the third-best player in Milwaukee Bucks history behind Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a three-time All-Star with a ring and 11½ seasons in a Bucks uniform. Plus, an Olympic gold medal for good measure.
Middleton was traded to Washington on Wednesday in a deal that landed Kyle Kuzma.
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Middleton's biggest moments often were saved for the biggest stage, including, of course, during the run to the 2021 NBA championship. These are the unforgettable memories left behind with the Milwaukee Bucks .
Khris Middleton's portfolio of amazing buzzer-beaters
May 22, 2021, Game 1 of Eastern Conference first round vs. Miami
You remember how the playoff run ended, with an NBA championship. It also began with a bang, when Middleton hit a game-winning basket with 0.5 seconds left to trigger the first of four straight wins against Miami in the opening round. Middleton finished with 27 points, six assists and six rebounds, capped by the 19-footer that gave Milwaukee a 109-107 victory.
April 15, 2018, Game 1 of Eastern Conference first round vs. Boston
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Before the Bucks found their footing as a bona fide title contender, Middleton scored 31 points with six assists and eight rebounds to help the Bucks give Boston a serious run for its money in the first round of the 2018 playoffs. At the end of regulation in the opener, he took an inbound with 0.5 seconds left and tossed in a deep 3-pointer to force overtime. Announcer Gus Johnson lost his mind. The Bucks lost, but Middleton balled out.
Middleton scored 32 points in Game 7 of that series, including 17 of Milwaukee's final 19 points, but it wasn't meant to be in a 112-96 loss. He also led the team with 23 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in Game 3. His reputation as a Celtics-killer had been born.
April 26, 2024, Game 3 of Eastern Conference first round vs. Indiana
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In another game that didn't work out, Middleton's heave with 1.4 seconds on the clock tied the game against Indiana in the 2024 playoffs, part of a 42-point performance with Giannis Antetokounmpo out with injury. Middleton scored 42 points with 10 rebounds and five assists, but the Bucks lost in overtime 121-118.
Dec. 15, 2014 vs. Phoenix
It didn't have the stakes of the playoff buzzer-beaters but it was just as fun. His make off the backboard gave the Bucks a true buzzer-beating win, a 96-94 victory.
March 14, 2015 vs. Miami
In one of the crazier finishes in Bradley Center history, Middleton barely got off a game-winning shot before the buzzer following a save by Zaza Pachulia , draining a game-winner against Miami for a 89-88 victory. It's one of the craziest highlights you'll see, followed by a raucous celebration.
Khris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks holds the Eastern Conference Championship trophy after defeating the Atlanta Hawks in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals at State Farm Arena on July 03, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia.
No Giannis? It's Middleton time (July 1, 2021, Game 5 of Eastern Conference finals vs. Atlanta )
With Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined by a knee injury and the Bucks in a must-win situation in a 2-2 series, Middleton scored 26 points with 13 rebounds, eight assists and two steals. "Bucks in 6" chants rained down at Fiserv Forum, a prophecy that finally would come to pass for the franchise when Milwaukee won in Atlanta two nights later to clinch the series, with Middleton scoring 32 points with seven assists and three steals. Middleton was also lights out in Game 3 of the series, scoring 38 points with 11 rebounds and seven assists.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) drives for the basket against Washington Wizards forward Isaac Bonga (17) during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum on Jan 28, 2020; Middleton scored a career-best 51 points in the game.
Khris Middleton scores 51 points (Jan. 28, 2020, vs. Washington)
His greatest game by "game score" in the Basketball Reference database, Middleton joined Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Brandon Jennings and Michael Redd as the only Bucks players to score 50 points in a game (later joined by Jrue Holiday in 2023). Middleton hit his first seven three-pointers and delivered an exciting dunk to reach the 50-point mark in a 151-131 win, becoming the oldest Bucks player to clear 50 points in a game at 28 years, 169 days. He hit 16 of 26 shots and made all 12 of his free throws, and did it all in just 36 minutes. Antetokonumpo wasn't available in the game, giving Middleton a spotlight.
Khris Middleton (left) and Eric Bledsoe react after their win during overtime against the Miami Heat in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference playoffs at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on Sept. 6, 2020.
Keeping the Bucks afloat in the bubble (Sept. 6, 2020, Game 4 of Eastern Conference first round vs. Miami)
It's a footnote lost to history because the Heat ultimately won that series in 5 and sent the Bucks to a disappointing playoff ouster, but Middleton willed the Bucks to victory with Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined by an early injury to keep the Heat from a sweep.
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Middleton finished with 36 points, eight assists and eight rebounds. His three-pointer in overtime gave the Bucks a 4-point lead with 6 seconds left, and he hit two free throws with 2 seconds left to ice the 118-115 overtime win. The Bucks stayed alive for only another game (Giannis wasn't available for that game either), but it was a brief respite from a sluggish postseason.
Khris Middleton shoots over Blake Griffin and Jeff Green of the Brooklyn Nets at Fiserv Forum on June 17, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Middleton has playoff opus against Brooklyn (June 17, 2021, Game 6 of Eastern Conference semifinals vs. Brooklyn)
We've already forgotten this moment, when Middleton scored 38 points with 10 boards, five assists and five steals to help the Bucks force Game 7 with a 104-89 victory in a tense Eastern Conference semifinals against Brooklyn. Middleton scored 11 points in the fourth quarter and hit 6 of 7 free throws in the final period, plus 11-of-16 shooting overall (5 of 8 from deep). The Bucks, of course, went on to win the series and win two more for the NBA championship. It's the second best "game score" in Middleton's career.
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In Game 3, an 86-83 rock fight of a victory, Middleton had 35 points with 15 rebounds and a huge layup with 1:17 left, then two free throws with 2 seconds left to ice it.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) scores during the first half of their NBA Finals game on Wednesday, July 14, 2021, at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis.
Down the stretch in Game 4 of NBA Finals (July 14, 2021, Game 4 of NBA Finals vs. Phoenix)
Middleton was essential down the stretch as the Bucks rallied to stun the Suns 109-103 and tie the 2021 NBA Finals series 2-2 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. He had a playoff career-best 40 points, with six rebounds, four assists and two steals. He did take a lot of shots (15 of 33), but given the stage, it was a massive effort.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) celebrates with the Larry O'Brien Trophy after game six of the 2021 NBA Finals and the championship against the Phoenix Suns at Fiserv Forum.
'We did it, huh? We f---ing did it!'
More than anything else, Khris Middleton will go down in Bucks history as an NBA champion. Giannis Antetokounmpo stared at his partner in crime and endearingly uttered those words, "We did it, huh? We f---ing did it," during the postgame interview on national television.
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Middleton led the Bucks in minutes during the six games of the NBA Finals in 2021 (42.5) and averaged 24 points per game with 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Best of Khris Middleton with Milwaukee Bucks
