Rapid Recap: Bucks 126, Bulls 110
The Milwaukee Bucks opened their NBA Cup title defense with a 126-110 victory over their I-94 rivals, the Chicago Bulls. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the charge with an impressive 41 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists. Myles Turner also contributed significantly, tallying 23 points, seven rebounds, and four steals.
For the Bulls, Matas Buzelis was the lone scorer to reach 20 points, finishing with 20 points and eight rebounds while shooting 8/12 from the field. Josh Giddey put up a solid all-around performance with 16 points, 14 assists, and seven rebounds.
First Quarter Struggles and Early Lead
The Bucks got off to a slow offensive start, missing their first five shots. Meanwhile, Matas Buzelis went 3-for-3 on layups, helping Chicago to an 8-1 lead with 8:55 remaining. Giannis' only point in that stretch came from a free throw. AJ Green then hit a field goal on the next possession, marking the Bucks' first basket of the game.
Despite Chicago’s early scoring burst, the game was not a high-scoring affair initially. The teams combined for just 48 points in the first quarter and shot 43.1% (19/44) from the field. Chicago held an eight-point advantage at one moment, but Milwaukee responded with a 7-2 run in the final 2:37 to narrow the gap to 25-23 going into the second quarter.
Mid-Game Adjustments
After a slow offensive start, both teams began to find their rhythm in a tightly contested, back-and-forth second quarter. Giannis then delivered a dominant performance in the fourth, scoring 19 points to keep the Bucks undefeated in NBA Cup play.
Giannis’ 19-point fourth quarter keeps the Bucks unbeaten in NBA Cup play.
Author’s Summary: Giannis’ late surge powered the Bucks past the Bulls 126-110, showcasing his all-around dominance and helping Milwaukee maintain its perfect record in the NBA Cup.