Antetokounmpo Leads Bucks to NBA Cup Title Defense Win
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 41 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and dished out nine assists as the Milwaukee Bucks opened their NBA Cup title defense with a 126-110 win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night.
Bucks' Dominance in NBA Cup History
This victory improved the Bucks to 9-0 in the NBA Cup group play stage throughout the event's three-year existence. Previously, Milwaukee lost to Indiana in the semifinals two seasons ago but won the title last year by defeating Oklahoma City 97-81.
Game Highlights
- Antetokounmpo scored 19 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Bucks pull away.
- He shot 16 of 32 from the floor, marking the first time this season his shooting percentage dipped below 61.5%.
- Myles Turner contributed 23 points, his highest output since joining Milwaukee this year.
- Ryan Rollins added 20 points for the Bucks.
- For Chicago, Matas Buzelis scored 20 points and collected eight rebounds.
- Josh Giddey recorded 16 points, 14 assists, and seven rebounds, continuing his streak of triple-doubles in consecutive games.
"Giddey had triple-doubles in his last two games. He's the first Bulls player to have triple-doubles in consecutive games since Michael Jordan in April 1989."
Chicago had won its NBA Cup opener against New York 135-125 earlier in October. In this game, the Bucks gained a decisive lead early in the third quarter and capped it with an 8-0 run, extending their lead to 112-99 with four minutes remaining.
Summary
Antetokounmpo's stellar performance and key contributions from teammates propelled the Bucks to a strong start in defending their NBA Cup title.
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