Rapid Recap: Bucks 126, Bulls 110
The Milwaukee Bucks kicked off their NBA Cup title defense with a 126-110 victory over their I-94 rivals, the Chicago Bulls. Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a dominant performance, tallying 41 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists.
Myles Turner contributed significantly with 23 points, seven rebounds, and four steals. Matas Buzelis was the only Bull to exceed 20 points, scoring 20 points and grabbing eight rebounds while shooting 8-for-12 from the field. Josh Giddey added 16 points, 14 assists, and seven rebounds.
Slow Start for Bucks
Milwaukee struggled early, missing their first five shots, while Buzelis helped Chicago surge to an 8-1 lead with 3 made layups. Giannis was the lone Bucks scorer during this stretch, hitting a free throw. AJ Green then scored Milwaukee's first field goal, halting Chicago's early momentum.
The first quarter was a low-scoring affair, with both teams combining for just 48 points on 43.1% shooting (19-for-44). Chicago held a lead of up to eight points, but the Bucks closed the quarter with a 7-2 run, trimming the deficit to 25-23.
Back-and-Forth Game Develops
After a slow offensive start, both teams began to find their rhythm, resulting in a competitive, back-and-forth matchup as the game progressed.
Giannis’ 19-point fourth quarter keeps the Bucks unbeaten in NBA Cup play.
Author’s summary: Giannis led a resilient Bucks team to a strong start in their title defense, overcoming an early deficit to defeat the Bulls 126-110 in a tightly contested game.