Milwaukee Bucks are set to have Brook Lopez back in the lineup for Monday’s contest against the Utah Jazz, Adrian Wojnarawski of ESPN reports.
Lopez will play his first game since the opening night for the reigning champions. He underwent back surgery after suffering a back injury on the game against the Brooklyn Nets.
He had surgery on Dec. 2, and had been rehabilitating the injury until he was cleared to return to full contact in practice a week ago.
Milwaukee is 42-26 and second in the Eastern Conference behind Miami. With Lopez out, the Bucks are outside the Top-10 in Def Rtg for the first time in Mike Budenholzer’s stint in Milwaukee.
Lopez averaged 12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks for the team last season, and was instrumental in capturing the franchise’s first NBA title since 1971.
The return of the veteran big will boost Bucks’ front court ahead of the postseason. The Bucks traded for Serge Ibaka in the deadline. However, the Congolese center did not have an impact in the team’s rim protection.
The primary center rotation for most of the season has been consisted of Bobby Portis and Giannis Antetokoummpo. Lopez’s return will fortify the Bucks frontline.
Bembry out for rest of the season
In the same day that Bucks fans receive good news of Brook Lopez return, the team announced DeAndre Bembry teared his ACL and he will miss the rest of the season.
Bembry was injured in Saturday night’s 122-109 loss to the Golden State Warriors. He has averaged 10 minutes per contest since he joined Milwaukee last month.
Milwaukee signed Bembry to fortify its perimeter depth, especially with the losses of Donte DiVincenzo, who was traded to the Sacramento Kings, and Pat Connaughton, who suffered a fractured hand.
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