Ament's Return Clock Hits Zero as Bucks Close Out in Charlotte

By the Bucks Nightly Desk · Sunday, October 11

Milwaukee visits Charlotte on October 11, three days before closing out its exhibition slate against two more opponents. Nate Ament's estimated return from his ankle issue lands the same day, and the Hornets arrive missing six regulars, including Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel.

Bucks Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Last season

Charlotte finished 44-38 last season, with a net rating of plus-4.9 that outpaced Milwaukee's minus-6.1. Knueppel averaged 18.5 points and Miller 20.2, the kind of scoring neither will provide tonight. The Bucks, at 32-50 last season, lean on a roster built around Tyler Herro, Ryan Rollins and Myles Turner instead.

Since September

Two threads from September carry no new detail: the league's inquiry into Milwaukee's trade for Gary Trent Jr., reported September 23, and an October 6 roundup linking Kevin Porter Jr., Herro, the Bucks and Swain. Neither has produced a finding or a follow-up report.

This week

Milwaukee split its first two preseason games. The Bucks lost to Minnesota 97-116 on October 5, with Ryan Rollins scoring 15 and Kel'el Ware adding 14 points and 12 rebounds. Two days later they beat Oklahoma City 128-126 on the road, with Myles Turner contributing 8 points and Jaquez leading Milwaukee with 13.

Oct. 6-7

The roster turned over at the edges. Johni Broome signed with Milwaukee on October 6, and John Butler Jr. left the team the next day. On October 7, Nate Ament also went from unlisted to sidelined, with the issue described as an ankle injury on his left leg. The team put his return at October 11.

Today

Milwaukee plays at Charlotte in preseason on October 11, the same date the Bucks projected for Ament's ankle to clear. The Hornets, under Charles Lee, are without Coby White, Kon Knueppel, Grant Williams, Brandon Miller, Christian Anderson and Kylan Boswell, all sidelined by various leg injuries. Charlotte enters with four days of rest against Milwaukee's three.

Next Milwaukee's next game is October 14 against the Bulls, still in preseason, three days after Charlotte; the regular-season opener follows October 21 at Washington.

Is Nate Ament playing against the Hornets tonight?

Milwaukee set October 11, tonight's game, as the estimated return date for Ament's ankle, though his playing status for the game itself has not been confirmed.

What is Milwaukee's preseason record so far?

The Bucks are 1-1 in preseason: they fell to Minnesota 97-116, then won at Oklahoma City 128-126, before facing Charlotte on October 11.