Antetokounmpo Leads Bucks Past Bulls in NBA Cup Opener
Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a stellar performance with 41 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists as the Milwaukee Bucks began their NBA Cup title defense with a 126-110 win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night.
The Bucks improved to 9-0 in group play across the three-year history of the NBA Cup. Two seasons ago, Milwaukee was eliminated by Indiana in the semifinals, but last year they secured the championship with a win over Oklahoma City 97-81.
“Antetokounmpo scored 19 points in the fourth quarter to help the Bucks pull away.”
He shot 16 of 32 from the field, marking the first time this season he dropped below 61.5% shooting. Myles Turner added 23 points, his highest total since joining Milwaukee this year, while Ryan Rollins contributed 20 points.
For Chicago, rookie Matas Buzelis tallied 20 points and eight rebounds. Josh Giddey recorded 16 points, 14 assists, and seven rebounds — his third strong performance in a row after back-to-back triple-doubles. He became the first Bulls player to notch triple-doubles in consecutive games since Michael Jordan did so in April 1989.
Chicago had opened its NBA Cup campaign with a 135-125 win over New York in October. The Bucks seized control early in the third quarter and sealed the game with an 8-0 run, extending their lead to 112-99 with four minutes remaining.
Author’s Summary
Antetokounmpo powered Milwaukee to victory with a 41-point outing, marking a strong start to the Bucks’ NBA Cup title defense.