Staff Writer

Key role player and power forward Bobby Portis exited the Bucks’ Tuesday night game against the Detroit Pistons with an apparent knee injury and did not return. Post-game, he was diagnosed with a grade 2 MCL sprain, which should sideline Portis for at least the next two weeks.

The news comes as a big blow to the Bucks, who were starting to gain steam again going into the few weeks left before All-Star weekend. The Bucks are 31-17, good for third in the competitive Eastern Conference. They have a tough schedule coming up and will clearly miss POrtis while he recovers.

Portis has emerged this season as a serious contender for 6th man of the year, the annual NBA award for the league’s best bench player. He is averaging a near-career-high 14.4 points on 49.9% shooting and a career-high 10.1 rebounds in 26.8 minutes across 47 games this season.