In a dominant performance on Wednesday night, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to a 122-106 win over the Chicago Bulls, finishing with 41 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.
The Bucks have now won four of their last five games, continuing their turnaround after a rough 2-8 start to the season. Antetokounmpo’s all-around brilliance was the driving force behind the victory, but he had plenty of support from his teammates as Milwaukee overcame a late challenge from Chicago.
Brook Lopez contributed a solid 21 points, while Damian Lillard chipped in with 20 points and 10 assists, orchestrating the offense with precision. AJ Green also had a standout performance, scoring 18 points, including some timely 3-pointers that helped stretch Milwaukee’s lead. The balanced attack from the Bucks made them a tough opponent for the Bulls, who struggled to contain Milwaukee’s offensive firepower.
For Chicago, Zach LaVine was the bright spot, scoring 27 points to lead the team. However, after a strong first half in which he scored 20 of Chicago’s 51 points, LaVine was limited to just seven points in the second half. The Bulls also got double-digit scoring efforts from Torrey Craig (15 points), Nikola Vucevic (14 points), and Coby White (14 points), but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Bucks’ overall team performance.
Advertisement
Latest Press Conference
We’re on Social Media
Milwaukee seemed to be in control for much of the game, building an 18-point lead after a 16-0 run that stretched from the end of the first quarter into the second. The Bucks’ dominance in the paint was a major factor, as they outscored the Bulls 54-34 inside. Despite this, Chicago mounted a strong comeback in the third quarter, chipping away at the deficit and pulling within one point. The Bulls’ resilience kept the game close, but Milwaukee responded when it mattered most, outscoring Chicago by 11 in the final frame.
The turning point in the game came midway through the fourth quarter when the Bucks went on a critical run to put the game out of reach. Green, who had been hot all night, knocked down a corner 3-pointer with 6:49 left to push Milwaukee’s lead to seven. That shot seemed to ignite the Bucks, as Lillard and Lopez followed suit with back-to-back 3-pointers of their own, extending the lead to 13. From that point on, the Bulls had no answer for Antetokounmpo’s dominance inside, and Milwaukee cruised to the win.
A key stat from the game was the performance of the Bucks’ bench, which outscored the Bulls’ reserves 23-7 in the first half. Green was particularly impressive, scoring 11 of those points in the opening quarter, setting the tone for the second unit. Milwaukee’s depth has been a crucial factor in their recent surge, and Green’s scoring in the first half gave the Bucks a significant lift.
Antetokounmpo’s performance in the third quarter was another defining moment of the game. After being held to just 13 points in the first half, the two-time MVP exploded for 25 of the Bucks’ 29 points in the third quarter alone. His scoring burst helped Milwaukee recover from a tight first half and regain control of the game. Antetokounmpo’s ability to take over stretches of games like this is what makes him one of the most unstoppable forces in the NBA.
For the Bulls, the loss was another frustrating chapter in a season that has yet to gain momentum. Chicago fought hard but struggled to contain Antetokounmpo, especially in the second half when the Bucks star dominated the paint. Despite solid individual efforts, particularly from LaVine, the Bulls couldn’t keep up with the firepower that Milwaukee brought in the second half.
The loss marks the Bulls’ latest setback as they continue to search for consistency. After showing some promise earlier in the season, Chicago has now dropped multiple games in a row and will need to regroup ahead of their matchup with the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. For the Bucks, this victory continues to show their growth after a tough start, and they will look to keep building momentum when they host the Indiana Pacers in their next outing.
Key Stats and Takeaways:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 41 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.
- Brook Lopez scored 21 points, Damian Lillard added 20 points and 10 assists, and AJ Green chipped in 18 points.
- Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 27 points, but was held to just seven points in the second half.
- The Bucks outscored the Bulls 54-34 in the paint.
- Milwaukee’s bench outscored Chicago’s reserves 23-7 in the first half, with Green scoring 11 points in the first quarter.
- Antetokounmpo scored 25 of the Bucks’ 29 points in the third quarter after being held to 13 in the first half.
- The Bucks have won four of their last five games, while the Bulls have now lost consecutive matchups.
