NBA Cup: Bucks Beat Bulls with Giannis Antetokounmpo's 41 Points
The Milwaukee Bucks continued their dominance in the NBA Cup group stage, remaining undefeated with a 9-0 record over the three-year history of the event. On Friday night, they defeated the Chicago Bulls 126-110 to begin their title defense.
Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a stellar performance, scoring 41 points along with 15 rebounds and nine assists. He contributed 19 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Bucks pull away late in the game. Giannis shot 16 of 32 from the floor, marking the first time this season his shooting percentage dipped below 61.5%.
Myles Turner added 23 points, his highest since joining Milwaukee this season, while Ryan Rollins contributed 20 points.
Chicago Bulls' Key Players
- Matas Buzelis scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
- Josh Giddey posted 16 points, 14 assists, and seven rebounds. He has had triple-doubles in his last two games, becoming the first Bulls player with consecutive triple-doubles since Michael Jordan in April 1989.
NBA Cup History for the Bucks
Milwaukee previously lost to Indiana in the semifinals two seasons ago but won the NBA Cup title with a 97-81 victory over Oklahoma City last year.
"Giannis Antetokounmpo drives to the basket against the Chicago Bulls." — Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images
Related Notes
Chicago had opened its NBA Cup campaign with a 135-125 win over New York.
Meanwhile, discussions continue around the proposal to bring a new professional soccer team and an outdoor stadium to Milwaukee, with local media seeking answers through open records requests.
Author's summary: Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to a 126-110 win over the Bulls, extending Milwaukee’s unbeaten NBA Cup group stage record to 9-0 over three years.