MILWAUKEE — Malcolm Brogdon, who has been sidelined for almost two months with a plantar fascia tear, saw his first action since March 15 on Wednesday in Game 5 between the Celtics and Bucks.
Brogdon came off the bench at the start of the second quarter, replacing Pat Connaughton. Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said Brogdon would be on a minutes restriction
“He’s such a pro,” Budenholzer said before the game. “He loves playing. He’s very, very excited to be playing.”
Milwaukee leads the series 3-1 and was looking to eliminate the Celtics on Wednesday night.
The Bucks have relied on their bench heavily in Games 3 and 4 against the Celtics. In Game 3, backups Connaughton and George Hill gave Milwaukee an offensive boost. In Game 4, when Eric Bledsoe, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton were all sitting with foul trouble, the bench built a third-quarter lead. The Bucks never trailed after the third.
The Bucks hope that Brogdon — who was a starter during the regular season — can add even more punch to that second unit.
“He gives us an extra spark,” Middleton said. “Someone that we missed for a long time. Just to have him available is huge for us — another quality piece we can bring to our depth.”
Brogdon traveled with the team to Boston for Games 3 and 4, worked out with the training staff and played 5-on-5.
During the regular season, Brogdon averaged 15.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. The Bucks expect him to return to his starting role should they advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
Source : ESPN
