Don’t Expect Khris Middleton to Turn Things Around in Game 5 vs. Nets

It’s been an up-and-down postseason for Khris Middleton, and the Milwaukee Bucks fell behind the Nets 2-0 partly because of his shooting struggles. 

Middleton averaged 20.4 points per game during the regular season while shooting 47.6 percent from the field and 41.4 percent from downtown. His efficiency has taken a major hit in the playoffs, and while Middleton is averaging more points (21.3 per game) than he did in the regular season, he’s shooting just 43.0 percent from the field and 37.0 percent from 3. 

WynnBET has Middleton’s player prop projection for points in Game 5 set at 22.5, with the over (-120) being the favorite to the under (+104). After he hit a game-winning shot against the Miami Heat in Game 1 of their first-round series, I thought Middleton could be poised for a big postseason. 

Instead, he’s done the exact opposite over Milwaukee’s next seven playoff games. Middleton has scored 22 points or less in six of his last seven games, and he’s scored less than 20 points in four of those contests. 

Outside of his 35-point explosion in Game 3 against the Brooklyn Nets, Middleton has been underwhelming in this series, as he’s shooting a dismal 38.6 percent from the field. Even with Kyrie Irving out and James Harden doubtful, Middleton’s play doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence in him hitting the over.

Middleton has looked better after 6-for-23 and 7-for-20 performances in the first two games against the Nets, but he hasn’t been good enough to pass up the +104 odds on his under tonight. Despite playing almost 42 minutes in Game 4, he still only put up 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting. 

If his current playoff trend continues, Middleton is a great bet to hit the under and you can count on me fading him tonight.