Rapid Recap: Bucks 126, Bulls 110
The Milwaukee Bucks opened their NBA Cup title defense with a strong 126–110 victory over their I-94 rivals, the Chicago Bulls. Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a dominant performance, scoring 41 points, grabbing 15 rebounds, and dishing out nine assists, including a stunning 19-point outburst in the fourth quarter that sealed the game.
Myles Turner added 23 points, seven rebounds, and four steals for Milwaukee, while Josh Giddey contributed 16 points, 14 assists, and seven rebounds. For Chicago, rookie Matas Buzelis led the offense with 20 points and eight rebounds, shooting 8-for-12 from the field. He was the only Bull to score more than 20 points.
Game Flow
The Bucks stumbled early, missing their first five shots as Chicago jumped out to an 8–1 lead behind Buzelis’ perfect start in the paint. Milwaukee’s first field goal came from AJ Green, calming the early tension. Despite Chicago’s fast opening, neither team found an offensive groove in the first quarter.
Across the opening 12 minutes, both sides combined for just 48 points, shooting a collective 43.1% from the floor (19-for-44). Chicago led by as many as eight points before Milwaukee responded with a 7–2 run in the final minutes, trimming the margin to 25–23 at the end of the first.
Momentum Shift
In the second quarter, both teams began to settle into rhythm. The pace quickened, and the lead alternated several times as the game turned into a back-and-forth battle. Giannis’ aggressive play inside and Milwaukee’s defensive adjustments began to tilt the momentum in favor of the defending champions.
“Giannis’ 19-point fourth quarter keeps the Bucks unbeaten in NBA Cup play.”
Summary
By the final buzzer, Milwaukee had asserted its dominance, maintaining an unbeaten record in this year’s NBA Cup. Chicago’s early energy faded under the weight of Giannis’ relentless attack and the Bucks’ experience.
Author’s summary: Giannis Antetokounmpo’s fourth-quarter surge powered the Bucks past the Bulls in a commanding start to their NBA Cup title defense.