Beasley out at least three games

Forward has hyperextended knee

Michael Beasley gave the Milwaukee Bucks and their fans a big scare when he had to be helped off the floor Monday night in Cleveland.

But the Bucks got some good news Tuesday when an MRI exam revealed Beasley has a hyperextended left knee. The team said he will be out at least three games and be re-evaluated then.

Bucks players were confident it was not a serious injury after they spoke to Beasley following the 102-95 loss to the Cavaliers. It was not comparable to the second left anterior cruciate ligament tear suffered by Bucks forward Jabari Parker against Miami on Feb. 8. Parker is expected to be out for at least a year.

But images of the play showed Beasley’s knee twisting awkwardly as he went to the floor while trying to guard LeBron James on the break in the second quarter. He was helped off the floor by teammates Thon Maker and Greg Monroe.

Beasley had scored 11 points in 9 minutes and was leading the Bucks’ offense when he was injured. The 6-foot-9 forward was in the starting lineup Monday because Khris Middleton was held out of the second night of the back-to-back set. Middleton is getting back to full speed after missing the first 50 games of the season with a left hamstring injury. The Bucks host the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday and meet the Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors on Friday and Saturday at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Those are critical games for Milwaukee (26-32) as it tries to stay in the Eastern Conference playoff chase.

Beasley has played so well this season that Bucks coach Jason Kidd suggested before Monday’s game he should be considered for the league’s most improved player award. Teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo, who became an all-star starter this season, is expected to be a leading candidate for the award, and others include Washington forward Otto Porter and Denver center Nikola Jokic.

When Parker went down with his injury, the 28-year-old Beasley stepped into a starting role. He has averaged 9.7 points and 3.6 rebounds in 50 games, with 45 of them coming off the bench. He leads the team in field-goal percentage (54.2%).

“He has been asked off to come off the bench, asked to start, and he doesn’t complain,” Kidd said. “He plays every night and puts us in a position to win.”

Beasley had 22 points against Utah in the Bucks’ first game after the all-star break, but Kidd asked him to go back to the bench Sunday against Phoenix with Middleton getting his first start of the season.

Beasley hit 8 of 10 shots and had 17 points while playing 23 minutes in the the victory over the Suns.

“He was going,” Kidd said. “When you talk about Jabari being out, Beasley has taken full advantage of that opportunity.”

Mirza Teletovic may see his time on the court increase in the next few games with Beasley sidelined. Teletovic had three points in 9 minutes against the Cavaliers.

Beasley was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 draft, chosen by the Miami Heat. He played two stints with the Heat and also with Minnesota and Phoenix.

He was named the most valuable player of the Chinese Basketball Association last season while playing with the Shandong Golden Stars, but it was not clear if he would get another chance in the NBA. Late in the season he signed with the Houston Rockets and played in 20 regular-season and five playoff games.

The Bucks acquired Beasley in a September trade with Houston that sent Tyler Ennis to the Rockets.