Bucks' Parker, Mayo to return vs. Cavaliers

Jabari Parker will return to the Milwaukee Bucks lineup Thursday when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers, while guard O.J. Mayo is set to make his season debut.

It's a double dose of positive news as the Bucks make their first regular-season appearance on TNT since 2002. Milwaukee has lost three of four, but appear to have caught a break with Parker. Diagnosed with a sprained right foot on Monday, it was initially suggested he'd be out three games. Instead, he only missed one, flying to Cleveland to join the Bucks on Wednesday.

The 20-year-old sophomore is averaging 7.2 points and 3.6 rebounds on 48.6 percent shooting through five games this season. He missed the first four games recovering from the torn left ACL that ended his rookie campaign in December.

For Mayo, it's his first game since the preseason, when he suffered a hamstring injury. While somewhat maligned for inefficiency throughout his career, he's an important component to the Bucks' bench, averaging 11.4 points in just under 24 minutes last year.

While their returns should give the Bucks' offense a shot in the arm, it's defense that's the concern for the team. Through 11 games, they rank second-last in the league in defensive rating, according to NBA Stats.