Bucks, Bulls happy to have stars healthy ahead of divisional clash

A pair of Central Division foes with varying expectations meet on Friday as the Milwaukee Bucks host the Chicago Bulls.

The Bucks hope their window as a contender can be extended for another season, as the franchise vies to return to the playoffs for a ninth consecutive season. Milwaukee's current eight-year postseason streak is second in the NBA only to Boston (10).

However, the veteran-led team is also vying to avoid a third consecutive first-round exit.

Milwaukee got off on the right foot in the season opener Wednesday, breezing past an undermanned Philadelphia 76ers team, 124-109. Second-year Buck Damian Lillard led the way with 30 points, while Giannis Antetokounmpo chipped in 25 points, 14 boards and seven assists on 8-for-11 shooting from the field against the Joel Embiid- and Paul George-less 76ers.

Antetokounmpo, who missed the final nine games of last season -- including the Bucks' entire first-round matchup with the Indiana Pacers -- with a calf injury, is still adjusting to life back on the court.

"I've just got to get my rhythm back," Antetokounmpo said. "The last time I played an NBA game was April 9th, the game I got hurt. It's a different pace, different speed, physicality, spacing, more minutes. I haven't played 32 minutes in a while, but I'll be okay."

Despite enjoying the return of one of the game's most dominant players, the Bucks were without Khris Middleton (ankle) in Wednesday's game. Middleton, 33, missed 27 regular-season games last season, but tallied 24.7 points per game in Milwaukee's playoff series against Indiana.

Luckily for the Bucks, head coach Doc Rivers said the veteran is considered day-to-day. Stepping up in Middleton's absence, Taurean Prince started Wednesday, tallying 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting in his team debut.

The Chicago Bulls are no strangers to having to account for the loss of key players.

The franchise's centerpiece Zach LaVine played just 25 games last season due to a foot injury. LaVine was back for Wednesday's 123-111 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, leading Chicago with 27 points on 10-for-17 shooting from the field, including a 5-for-8 mark on 3-pointers.

LaVine's return wasn't the only welcomed sight for Bulls fans, as Lonzo Ball made his first appearance in a regular-season game since Jan. 14, 2022, after suffering from a litany of knee injuries.

Ball, who put up five points and four assists in 14 minutes off the bench, drilled a triple on his first shot attempt in over 2 1/2 years.

"I feel good," Ball said. "I'd feel a little better if we won, but all good and move onto the next one. I'm just happy to be on the court. Coach calls my name and I'm just trying to give good minutes. Nice to get out there. ... Got to move on to Friday."

Ball, who turns 27 on Sunday, returns to a Chicago team that is expected to be in the beginning stages of a rebuild, with ESPN.com projecting just 37 wins. The Bulls have just one winning season and playoff appearance since 2017, coming in the 2021-22 campaign.

--Field Level Media