MILWAUKEE (AP) — When given the choice, the Milwaukee Bucks will always prefer to have Giannis Antetokounmpo on the court closing out tight games.They're still winning while the All-Star forward rests a sore right ankle, a good sign for a team jockeying for playoff seeding in the East.Coach Joe Prunty said it was too early to determine Antetokounmpo's status for the regular-season finale Wednesday at Philadelphia, though he liked what he saw at practice. The NBA's fourth-leading scorer (27.1 points) has missed the last two games because of the ankle injury."The bottom line is that it's progressing, that's the positive," Prunty said after practice Tuesday.A win over the 76ers allows the Bucks to clinch the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. A loss means that they could fall as low as eighth, depending on how the Washington Wizards fare over their last two games.Without Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee has beaten 50-loss teams in the New York Knicks and Orlando Magic. It's a positive since the... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Four years into his injury-plagued tenure in the NBA, Jabari Parker is finally nearing an important career first.The Milwaukee Bucks are going to the playoffs for the third time in four years. But this will be the first postseason with a healthy Parker."I'm just grateful to get to get the opportunity. That's what means the most (in) the NBA," the forward said after practice Wednesday. "It's not the regular season. It's the postseason, and that's where you want to end up."The Bucks clinched a second consecutive playoff berth when the Detroit Pistons lost to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night. Milwaukee has already sealed a second consecutive winning season, something the once-woebegone franchise hadn't achieved since the 1999-2000 and 2000-1 seasons.Parker, the second overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, has played a key role in Milwaukee's revitalization — when healthy. Knee injuries in the 2014-15 and 2016-17 seasons prevented Parker from suiting up in each of those... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Four years into his injury-plagued tenure in the NBA, Jabari Parker is finally nearing an important career first.The Milwaukee Bucks are on the verge of clinching their third playoff appearance in four years, but their first with Parker healthy."I'm just grateful to get to get the opportunity. That's what means the most (in) the NBA," the forward said after practice Wednesday. "It's not the regular season. It's the postseason, and that's where you want to end up."The Bucks can clinch a second consecutive postseason berth if the Detroit Pistons lose to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night. If the Pistons win, the Bucks can clinch by beating the 53-loss Brooklyn Nets on Thursday at the Bradley Center.Milwaukee has already sealed a second consecutive winning season, something the once-woebegone franchise hadn't achieved since the 1999-2000 and 2000-1 seasons.Parker, the second overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, has played a key role in Milwaukee's revitalization — when... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks played without star swingman Giannis Antetokounmpo on Friday night, but were cautiously optimistic that his sprained right ankle would not complicate their playoff run.Antetokounmpo sat out against the Chicago Bulls after injuring himself in a 127-120 home loss against the Los Angeles Clippers two nights earlier. He rolled the ankle with four minutes left in the first half and did not return."I can't give you an honest answer and say exactly when he's coming back, but I believe it will be sooner rather than later," interim coach Joe Prunty said. "I don't think it's worthwhile speculating at this time."Forward Jabari Parker replaced Antetokounmpo in the starting line-up. The Bucks (37-34) entered the game in the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.In his fifth pro season, Antetokounmpo leads the team in points, assists, rebounds and steals."I'm always concerned with everybody's injury in terms of we need everybody and we need him back," said Prunty, whose team dropped three of its last four games with Antetokounmpo in the line-up. "But I trust that our medical staff is very good and they're going to get him back healthy in the right fashion."The absence was Antetokounmpo's fifth this season. The Bucks split the previous four games.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Drifting to the left elbow of the paint, Jabari Parker took the pass and put up a jumper that swished through the net.Parker's left knee repaired twice by surgery looked just fine during practice on Wednesday. In a couple days, the forward will get a chance to finally to play in a game again for the Milwaukee Bucks.Parker is set to return on Friday night at home against the New York Knicks for his first game in a year."They said like 15 minutes," Parker recounted about what he has been told about playing time in his season debut. "I expect to come off the bench. From this point on, I've got to earn everything."When healthy, the second overall pick of the 2014 NBA draft out of Duke has the ability to score from just about anywhere on the court. He balanced an explosive first step with 36 percent shooting from 3-point range to average career-highs of 20.1 points and 6.2 rebounds in 51 games last year.That season ended on Feb. 8, 2017 when he tore his left ACL again in a game... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks plan to limit forward Jabari Parker to about 15 minutes in his first game back from a left knee injury that has sidelined him for the past year.Parker is scheduled to return for a home game Friday against the New York Knicks. He said after practice Wednesday that he was told he would go about 15 minutes off the bench.Parker was the second overall pick in the 2014 draft. He tore his left ACL for the second time in his career on Feb. 8, 2017, against Miami.Parker tore the same ACL in December 2014, ending his rookie season after 25 games.___For more NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Bucks forward Jabari Parker is set to return to the court Friday against the New York Knicks, nearly a year after being sidelined with the second major left knee injury of his career.Milwaukee said Monday night that Parker was medically cleared, making the announcement during the second quarter of its 107-95 victory against the Philadelphia 76ers.Parker tore his left ACL on Feb. 8, 2017, against Miami. At the time, he was averaging a career-high 20.1 points and 6.2 rebounds as one of the franchise cornerstones.Parker tore the same ACL in December 2014, ending his rookie season after 25 games. Milwaukee selected Parker with the second overall pick of the 2014 draft.The return of Parker comes at an important time, about a week before the NBA trade deadline. The Bucks are also trying to reassert themselves as a contender in the East following the firing of coach Jason Kidd.___For more NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Bucks forward Jabari Parker is set to return to the court Friday against the New York Knicks, nearly a year after being sidelined with the second major left knee injury of his career.Milwaukee said Monday night that Parker was medically cleared, making the announcement during the second quarter of its game against the Philadelphia 76ers.Parker tore his left ACL on Feb. 8, 2017, against Miami. At the time, he was averaging a career-high 20.1 points and 6.2 rebounds as one of the franchise cornerstones.Parker tore the same ACL in December 2014, ending his rookie season after 25 games. Milwaukee selected Parker with the second overall pick of the 2014 draft.The return of Parker comes at an important time, about a week before the NBA trade deadline. The Bucks are also trying to reassert themselves as a contender in the East following the firing of coach Jason Kidd.___For more NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

CHICAGO (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker expects to know a target date this week for his return from the second major knee surgery of his young career.Parker played two-on-two on Saturday and worked out prior to Sunday's game against the Chicago Bulls.The second overall pick in the 2014 draft, he was averaging 20.1 points when he tore his left ACL in a game against Houston on Feb. 8, 2017. It was his second major injury to that knee in three seasons. He had surgery six days later, and the Bucks said it would take a year for him to return.___More NBA basketball: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

MILWAUKEE (AP) — To teammates, Jabari Parker looks as if he is ready to get back on the court for the Milwaukee Bucks.Parker speaks cautiously as he moves closer to a return from the second major knee injury of his young career."Within these couple weeks. I think it's in the air for now," Parker said. "I've got to keep on talking it over with the medical staff and by that time I should be good."He will come back to a team with a renewed sense of urgency following the firing of coach Jason Kidd this week.Parker was drafted by the Bucks with the second overall pick in 2014, the same season that Kidd began his three-plus year tenure in Milwaukee. The master plan for the rebuilding franchise included Kidd guiding emerging forwards Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo as the core of a club that could contend by the time a new downtown arena opened in fall 2018.The arena is on schedule and Antetokounmpo has blossomed into a two-time NBA All-Star. But Kidd was fired Monday after midseason struggles... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks have assigned forward D.J. Wilson to the Wisconsin Herd, its G League affiliate.Wilson joins Bucks teammate Jabari Parker for practice Tuesday with the Herd at Menominee Nation Arena in Oshkosh. Wilson is expected to play Wednesday when the Herd takes on the Erie BayHawks at home.Wilson has appeared in 15 games for the Bucks this season, averaging 0.5 points and 0.4 rebounds in 3.5 minutes per game.The Herd is in second place in the Central Division with a 16-14 record.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jason Kidd helped make the Bucks relevant again. Someone else will have to help them become champions.Despite mentoring a young, athletic core led by All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kidd was fired by Milwaukee general manager Jon Horst on Monday. Assistant coach Joe Prunty will lead the team for the rest of the season.Still, if and when Milwaukee does compete for NBA titles, Kidd's influence will be clear. He led Antetokounmpo and company to two playoff appearances in three seasons — not bad for a team that won 15 games four seasons ago. Antetokounmpo has become a star, and Khris Middleton has also become a standout player.Yet the Bucks are hovering around .500 and stuck in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. The perimeter defense hasn't ever really improved, and turnovers have become a debilitating issue of late.For Horst, there wasn't enough progress for Kidd to keep his job. The surprise firing, hours before the Bucks beat the Phoenix Suns 109-105,... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Seeking change amid midseason struggles, the Milwaukee Bucks fired coach Jason Kidd on Monday after a slide that left a team with designs on challenging the NBA's best in eighth place in the Eastern Conference.It was a surprising end to Kidd's three-plus-season tenure in Milwaukee, during which the Bucks made the playoffs twice, exiting in the first round each time. Giannis Antetokounmpo turned into an All-Star under his watch, and the Bucks were considered an emerging force in the East at the start of the season.But the Bucks had lost four of five to fall to 23-22 going into Monday night's game against Phoenix and had been prone to defensive lapses, especially on the perimeter. Turnovers were an issue of late as well.General manager Jon Horst, who was promoted from director of basketball operations in June, said it was time for a change. Kidd was fired hours before the Bucks beat the Suns 109-105.Assistant coach Joe Prunty will serve as interim coach for the rest of the... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Seeking change amid midseason struggles, the Milwaukee Bucks fired coach Jason Kidd on Monday after a slide that left a team with designs on challenging the NBA's best in eighth place in the Eastern Conference.It was a surprising end to Kidd's three-plus-season tenure in Milwaukee, during which the Bucks made the playoffs twice, exiting in the first round each time. Giannis Antetokounmpo turned into an All-Star under his watch, and the Bucks were considered an emerging force in the East at the start of the season.But the Bucks had lost four of five to fall to 23-22 going into Monday night's game against Phoenix and had been prone to defensive lapses, especially on the perimeter. Turnovers were an issue of late as well.General manager Jon Horst, who was promoted from director of basketball operations in June, said it was time for a change. Kidd was fired hours before the Bucks beat the Suns 109-105.Assistant coach Joe Prunty will serve as interim coach for the rest of the... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Seeking change amid midseason struggles, the Milwaukee Bucks fired coach Jason Kidd on Monday after a slide that left a team with designs on challenging the NBA's best in eighth place in the Eastern Conference.It was a surprising end to Kidd's three-plus-season tenure in Milwaukee, during which the Bucks made the playoffs twice, exiting in the first round each time. Giannis Antetokounmpo turned into an All-Star under his watch, and the Bucks were considered an emerging force in the East at the start of the season.But the Bucks had lost four of five to fall to 23-22 going into Monday night's game against Phoenix and had been prone to defensive lapses, especially on the perimeter. Turnovers were an issue of late as well.General manager Jon Horst, who was promoted from director of basketball operations in June, said it was time for a change. Kidd was fired hours before the Suns game.Assistant coach Joe Prunty will serve as interim coach for the rest of the season, co-owner... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks fired coach Jason Kidd on Monday amid a midseason slide that has left the playoff hopeful in eighth place in the Eastern Conference.It was a surprising end to Kidd's three-plus season tenure in Milwaukee, when the Bucks made the playoffs twice. Giannis Antetokounmpo turned into an All-Star under his watch, and the Bucks were considered an emerging force in the East at the start of the season.But the Bucks had lost four of five to fall to 23-22 going into Monday night's home game against Phoenix, and had been prone to defensive lapses especially on the perimeter. Assistant coach Joe Prunty was serving as head coach.General manager Jon Horst, who was promoted from director of basketball operations in June, said it was time for a change and the move was made with "unanimous support of ownership."Under Kidd, the Bucks had a regular-season record of 139-152."We appreciate everything that Jason has done for the Bucks organization, but we have decided to make... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks fired coach Jason Kidd on Monday amid a midseason slide that has left the playoff hopeful in eighth place in the Eastern Conference.It was a surprising end to Kidd's three-plus season tenure in Milwaukee, when the Bucks made the playoffs twice. Giannis Antetokounmpo turned into an All-Star under his watch, and the Bucks were considered an emerging force in the East at the start of the season.But the Bucks had lost four of five going into Monday night's home game against Phoenix, and had been prone to defensive lapses especially on the perimeter. Assistant coach Joe Prunty was serving as head coach.Under Kidd, the Bucks had a regular-season record of 139-152."We appreciate everything that Jason has done for the Bucks organization, but we have decided to make a coaching change," Bucks general manager Jon Horst said. "We believe that a fresh approach and a change in leadership are needed to continue elevating our talented team toward the next level, bringing us closer to our goal of competing for championships."The Bucks are hoping to get Jabari Parker back from a left knee injury that has kept him out all season. But the Bucks have largely tread water in the wide-open East even after adding talented guard Eric Bledsoe in a trade with the Suns in November.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker is on target to return from a left knee injury the week before the All-Star break.Coach Jason Kidd said before Wednesday night's game against Orlando that Parker is doing great and is about a month away from playing.Parker, the second overall pick in the 2014 draft, was averaging 20.1 points when he tore his left ACL in a game against Houston on Feb. 8, 2017. It was his second major injury to that knee in three seasons. He had surgery six days later, and the Bucks said it would take a year for him to return.The All-Star Game is Feb. 18 in Los Angeles.___More NBA basketball: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

F Jabari Parker was assigned to the Wisconsin Herd of the G League on Monday as part of the process in his return from an ACL injury. The transaction allows Parker to practice with the Herd in Milwaukee on Monday and Tuesday. Parker hopes to return to the Bucks in mid-February, about one year after he tore the ACL in his left knee for the season time.

G Jabari Parker (torn left ACL) underwent successful surgery. Parker's first surgery as a rookie was performed by New York Mets team physician David Altchek, but this procedure was performed by Dr. Robert LaPrade of Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo.