The Milwaukee Bucks were searching for answers during a brutal stretch that saw them drop seven straight games, their longest losing skid since March 2014.

But on Saturday night against the Brooklyn Nets, they finally found some relief as they cruised to a 116-99 victory at Fiserv Forum, and a big reason why came from a familiar face returning to the lineup.

Kevin Porter Jr. made his long-awaited return to the court after missing 19 straight games due to a combination of a left ankle sprain suffered in the season opener and a subsequent right knee meniscus injury that required surgery in early November.

Head coach Doc Rivers inserted him directly into the starting lineup alongside Ryan Rollins, and Porter wasted no time making an impact by draining a three-pointer for the Bucks' first basket of the game.

Porter Jr. Brings a Boost

After the win, Porter reflected on what it took to get back on the floor and the approach he carried into his return.

"A lot of work had to get put in to get to today," Porter said. "So I feel good. I told myself 'Just let the work talk for itself. Have fun out there.' It was really fun."

The 25-year-old guard finished with 13 points on 4-for-10 shooting (including 3-for-5 from deep), six assists, four rebounds, a block, and a steal in 25 minutes while operating on a minutes restriction.

His energy was evident from the jump as he was flying all over the court, applying ball pressure and creating opportunities for teammates that the Bucks had been missing during their skid.

What Porter Brings to Milwaukee

Porter's return gives Milwaukee something they desperately needed: another creator who can handle the ball and generate offense.

During the seven-game losing streak, the Bucks struggled without his ability to push the pace and attack the rim, and Rivers noted how important having multiple playmakers is for this team.

The former USC standout signed a two-year, $11 million contract with Milwaukee over the summer after finishing last season strong with the team following a midseason trade from the Clippers.

In his 24 games with the Bucks last season, Porter averaged 11.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while shooting efficiently, and the organization clearly believes he can be a key piece moving forward.

Looking Ahead

With the win, the Bucks improved to 9-12 on the season, while the Nets dropped to 3-16.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 29 points in just 19 minutes and crossed the 21,000-point threshold for his career during the third quarter, becoming just the 42nd player in NBA history to reach that milestone.

Now Milwaukee turns its attention to building on this momentum with a matchup against the Washington Wizards (2-16) on Monday.

With Porter back alongside Antetokounmpo and the rest of the rotation, the Bucks finally have the pieces they envisioned when the season began, and Porter's mindset of letting his work speak for itself could be exactly what this team needs to turn their season around.