Khris Middleton scored eight points in 21 minutes after coming off the bench for the Milwaukee Bucks, who beat the San Antonio Spurs 121-105 on Wednesday night to win their second straight game.

Bucks coach Doc Rivers explained before the game that he was looking after Middleton's health by having him start from the bench, and nothing more sinister, after he had bilateral ankle surgery over the summer.

"It's just not improving to the place he wants it, or we want it, so we just got to monitor," Rivers said about Middleton's health. "We're cutting his minutes back a little bit and just trying to make sure he gets through this."

The 33-year-old shot two of seven from the field with one three-pointer, while he also had five rebounds and three assists.

Having missed the first 21 games of the season after surgery on both ankles, he has now played 13 times since making his debut in December. He had, though, been in the starting lineup in his previous seven, but missed Monday's game against the Toronto Raptors with ankle tendinitis.

His inclusion in the team, from the bench or otherwise, was a boost to his team-mates though.

"I think it just makes us an even stronger team. Khris coming off of surgery and missing some time, we had to get settled a certain way," point guard Damian Lillard said.

"He's going to be in a position to do more in that second group, and it also makes us that much better. It just gives you an opportunity where you don't have to have me and Giannis [Antetokounmpo] on the court one or the other hard time.

"You got another great player out there, and it's hell for the other team's bench to have to deal with. So I think it just makes us better, and it just creates a lot of balance for us."

Antetokounmpo, Lillard and Andre Jackson Jr. were all involved against the Spurs, despite being listed on the injury report going into the game, while Taurean Prince took Middleton's place from the start.

The Bucks are 3-4 when Middleton has started, though Rivers thinks it is too small of a sample size to judge him, especially while he is dealing with limited playing time.

"The bottom line is just not moving every night the way you like to," Rivers said. "One night you see, moving great. One night, he's not. Minutes go up and down.

"It's just, it's a tough go for him."