The Milwaukee Bucks and All-Star Khris Middleton got some unfortunate news Thursday morning ahead of their playoff series against the Boston Celtics. According to Shams Charania, Middleton is expected to miss the entire second round with an MCL sprain.

Middleton’s injury is considered “Grade-2,” making him questionable to return during a potential conference final series as well, per Shams. His absence is certainly a massive one for the Bucks, who will have to lean more on bench shooters like Pat Connaughton and Grayson Allen for scoring. Connaughton most recently scored 20 points in the Bucks’ series-clinching win over the Chicago Bulls, shooting 7-of-11 from three-point range.

However, the Bucks were facing the 16th-ranked defensive team in the NBA in the Bulls (112 points allowed per game). They go from that to the Celtics, who led the NBA with 104.5 opposing points per game.

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It goes without saying that the Celtics’ defensive job gets a hell of a lot easier with Middleton out of the Bucks’ lineup. They still face a big a challenge as they could face throughout the playoffs in defending first-team All-NBA big man Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Celtics-Bucks playoff series is scheduled to start on Sunday, May 1 with a 1 p.m. ET start time. Here’s the full schedule.

PHOTOS: Celtics take on Nets in Game 4 of 2022 NBA playoff series

• Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets – Game Four

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  Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics square off during the first quarter of Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

• Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets – Game Four

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  Robert Williams III #44 of the Boston Celtics dunks in the third quarter as Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets defends during Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

• NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets

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  Apr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) controls the ball against Brooklyn Nets guard Patty Mills (8) during the second quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
• NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets

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  Apr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) controls the ball against Brooklyn Nets guard Seth Curry (30) and forward Nic Claxton (33) during the first quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

• NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets

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  Apr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) is fouled as he drives to the basket by Brooklyn Nets center Andre Drummond (0) in front of Nets forward Bruce Brown (1) during the first quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

• Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets – Game Four

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  Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts after he is called for a foul in the first quarter against the Brooklyn Nets in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
• NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets

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  Apr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Blake Griffin (2) controls the ball against Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams (12) during the second quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

• NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets

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  Apr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) and center Daniel Theis (27) during the first quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

• NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets

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  Apr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Seth Curry (30) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) during the second quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
• NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets

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  Apr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) controls the ball against Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) during the second quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

• Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets – Game Four

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  Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrates his three point shot in the first quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

• Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets – Game Four

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  Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets heads down court in the first quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
• Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets – Game Four

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  Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets passes the ball as he is pressured by Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics in the second quarter during Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

• NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets

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  Apr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams (12) reacts after hitting a three point shot against the Brooklyn Nets during the second quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

• Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets – Game Four

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  Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics dunks as Nic Claxton #33 of the Brooklyn Nets defends in the first half during Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

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Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. You can also email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.

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