MILWAUKEE BUCKS

Pregame report: Khris Middleton moves into Bucks' starting lineup; Beasley off bench

Charles F. Gardner
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Khris Middleton's time to return to the starting lineup is here.

Bucks coach Jason Kidd said in his pregame comments that Middleton will start with Michael Beasley coming off the bench in Sunday's matinee game against the Phoenix Suns.

Beasley has excelled in a starting role, averaging 16.5 points in four games as a starter since being inserted into the lineup with Jabari Parker out.

"He (Beasley) has been great for us all season," Kidd said. "Everything we've asked him to do, he has done. We need him to continue to keep playing at the level he's playing at, where he can rebound the ball and score for us.

"You look at Jabari; they're very similar. He can score the ball and understands how to play."

Middleton has averaged 10.2 points and 2.2 rebounds in five games off the bench since returning from hamstring surgery that sidelined him for the first 50 games of the season.

Kidd also said newcomer Axel Toupane will be inactive against the Suns. The Bucks signed the 6-foot-7 guard on Saturday and he practiced with the team. Toupane has starred for Raptors 905 in the NBA Development League.

"We have him for 10 days," Kidd said. "Hopefully he will dress (Monday at Cleveland).

"This is a great opportunity for us to take a look at him. We need a wing (player). This is a young player who is long and can get after it, and also can make a corner three and has a basketball IQ."

Kidd said second-year player Rashad Vaughn would continue to get chances.

"We will try to get him more minutes this afternoon and going into Cleveland," Kidd said. "Defensively is what we're always going to look at first, being able to compete, guard and rebound the ball."

Vaughn played 4 minutes against the Jazz on Friday and 18 minutes against Brooklyn in the Bucks' last game before the all-star break.

Milwaukee routed the Suns, 137-112, in Phoenix earlier this month, scoring a season-high point total and shooting an NBA-high 63.4% from the field.

Guard Khris Middleton is back with the Bucks after missing four months with a hamstring injury and could play a key part in the Bucks push for the playoffs.