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Bobby Portis' suspension is over.
The Milwaukee Bucks forward is set to make his return Tuesday night completing a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA's anti-drug program.
His last game was nearly two months ago, on Feb. 12 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the final contest before the All-Star break. Portis' return game also comes against the Timberwolves.
Portis will look to provide his usual energy, a veteran presence and depth to a team still fighting for playoff positioning with four games left.
Here's what to know about his suspension and return to the Bucks:
Portis is scheduled to return from his 25-game suspension on Tuesday, April 8.
The Bucks, one game ahead of the Detroit Pistons for the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference standings, play host to the Timberwolves at Fiserv Forum after a three-game road trip.
It might take Portis a while to get his legs under him. Portis has been allowed to practice with the team and scrimmage during the suspension, but the 30-year-old has played in just five games since Jan. 23. He missed two weeks of action after the death of his grandmother.
Portis, who is in his fifth season with the Bucks and 10th overall in the NBA, was suspended by the league for taking the painkiller, Tramadol.
His agent, Mark Bartelstein, contended that Portis "unintentionally" took a Tramadol pill instead of Toradol, a pain medication approved by the league. Bartelstein said Portis was given the painkiller by one of his own personal assistants who had a prescription.
Portis admitted to taking the drug to treat an injury and apologized to the team.
“I was dealing with an elbow injury and using an NBA-approved medication for pain and inflammation," Portis said. "During that time, I made an honest mistake and took a pain-reducing anti-inflammatory pill that is not approved. I feel horrible and recognize that I’m responsible for what I put in my body."
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers and Portis' teammates publicly supported Portis.
The Bucks went 15-10 without Portis during his suspension and are 17-15 overall without him this season.
They were 29-24 at the time of his suspension and are 44-34 upon his return. A lot has changed for the Bucks in the last two months. Before his suspension, the Bucks were just working in new players like Kyle Kuzma and Kevin Porter Jr., both of whom had been acquired in trades in early February. Portis played four games with Kuzma and two with Porter. But both have played larger roles for the Bucks, especially as others have gone down.
Portis' suspension also coincided with other significant injuries the Bucks went on to face in recent weeks. Center Jericho Sims, acquired in a trade in February and providing a solid presence in the paint off the bench, suffered a torn ligament in his right thumb in mid-March. Sims has missed the last 11 games and was expected to be out for at least four weeks.
And All-Star guard Damian Lillard is out indefinitely with blood clots in his right calf. He has missed the last 10 games.
Here were Portis' stats this season before the suspension:
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: When is Bobby Portis coming back? Latest on Bucks player's suspension
Continue reading...
The Milwaukee Bucks forward is set to make his return Tuesday night completing a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA's anti-drug program.
His last game was nearly two months ago, on Feb. 12 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the final contest before the All-Star break. Portis' return game also comes against the Timberwolves.
Portis will look to provide his usual energy, a veteran presence and depth to a team still fighting for playoff positioning with four games left.
Here's what to know about his suspension and return to the Bucks:
When is Bobby Portis coming back?
Portis is scheduled to return from his 25-game suspension on Tuesday, April 8.
The Bucks, one game ahead of the Detroit Pistons for the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference standings, play host to the Timberwolves at Fiserv Forum after a three-game road trip.
It might take Portis a while to get his legs under him. Portis has been allowed to practice with the team and scrimmage during the suspension, but the 30-year-old has played in just five games since Jan. 23. He missed two weeks of action after the death of his grandmother.
Bobby Portis suspension
Portis, who is in his fifth season with the Bucks and 10th overall in the NBA, was suspended by the league for taking the painkiller, Tramadol.
His agent, Mark Bartelstein, contended that Portis "unintentionally" took a Tramadol pill instead of Toradol, a pain medication approved by the league. Bartelstein said Portis was given the painkiller by one of his own personal assistants who had a prescription.
Portis admitted to taking the drug to treat an injury and apologized to the team.
“I was dealing with an elbow injury and using an NBA-approved medication for pain and inflammation," Portis said. "During that time, I made an honest mistake and took a pain-reducing anti-inflammatory pill that is not approved. I feel horrible and recognize that I’m responsible for what I put in my body."
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers and Portis' teammates publicly supported Portis.
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Bucks record without Bobby Portis
The Bucks went 15-10 without Portis during his suspension and are 17-15 overall without him this season.
They were 29-24 at the time of his suspension and are 44-34 upon his return. A lot has changed for the Bucks in the last two months. Before his suspension, the Bucks were just working in new players like Kyle Kuzma and Kevin Porter Jr., both of whom had been acquired in trades in early February. Portis played four games with Kuzma and two with Porter. But both have played larger roles for the Bucks, especially as others have gone down.
Portis' suspension also coincided with other significant injuries the Bucks went on to face in recent weeks. Center Jericho Sims, acquired in a trade in February and providing a solid presence in the paint off the bench, suffered a torn ligament in his right thumb in mid-March. Sims has missed the last 11 games and was expected to be out for at least four weeks.
And All-Star guard Damian Lillard is out indefinitely with blood clots in his right calf. He has missed the last 10 games.
Bobby Portis stats
Here were Portis' stats this season before the suspension:
- Games: 46, with seven starts
- Minutes: 25.2
- Points: 13.7
- Field goal%: 46.3%
- 3P%: 36.4%
- FT%: 82.1%
- Rebounds: 8.3
- Assists: 2.2
- Blocks: 0.5
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: When is Bobby Portis coming back? Latest on Bucks player's suspension
Continue reading...
