Milwaukee Bucks center Brooke Lopez, who was sidelined with a back injury after the premiere, will return to the roster against the Utah Jazz on Monday night, the team announced.
Lopez’s return will solidify the front line for the Bucks as the franchise prepares for the Eastern Conference playoffs and a chance to defend its NBA championship.
The Bucks also said that George Hill would return on Monday. Hill (pain in the neck) has missed the last 16 games.
On December 2, Lopez underwent back surgery and was recovering from the injury until he was allowed to return to full contact in training a week ago. For the first time since coach Mike Budenholzer, the Bucks weren’t in the league’s top 10 in defensive effectiveness, and part of the reason was that they were playing without Lopez’s rebounds and rim defense.
Milwaukee is 42-26 and second in the Eastern Conference behind Miami. Lopez was third in the NBA with 163 defensive box-outs a year ago, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
He also ranked second in field goal percentage allowed at the rim among 72 players who defended 200 shots, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Only Golden State’s Draymond Green (47.3%) received a better rating than Lopez (49.3%).
Lopez, 33, averaged 12.3 points, five rebounds and 1.5 blocks a year ago.