NBA Cup: Bucks Beat Bulls with Giannis Antetokounmpo's 41 Points
The Milwaukee Bucks continued their dominance in the NBA Cup, improving to a perfect 9-0 in the group play stage over the event's three-year history. On Friday night, they defeated the Chicago Bulls 126-110, with Giannis Antetokounmpo delivering an impressive performance.
Giannis Antetokounmpo's Standout Performance
Antetokounmpo scored 41 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and provided nine assists in the game. He contributed 19 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Bucks pull away from the Bulls. He made 16 of 32 shots, marking the first time this season his shooting percentage dropped below 61.5%.
Supporting Players and Game Highlights
- Myles Turner scored 23 points, his highest since joining the Bucks this season.
- Ryan Rollins added 20 points.
- For Chicago, Matas Buzelis posted 20 points and eight rebounds.
- Josh Giddey tallied 16 points, 14 assists, and seven rebounds, marking back-to-back triple-doubles—the first Bulls player to do so since Michael Jordan in April 1989.
Background on Bucks' NBA Cup History
Two seasons ago, Milwaukee fell to Indiana in the semifinals. Last year, they won the NBA Cup title by beating Oklahoma City 97-81.
"Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 19 points in the fourth quarter to help the Bucks pull away."
"Josh Giddey had triple-doubles in his last two games. He’s the first Bulls player to have triple-doubles in consecutive games since Michael Jordan in April 1989."
Additional Note
Questions remain about bringing a new professional soccer team and outdoor stadium to Milwaukee; FOX6 News has filed an open records request to find answers.
Chicago had previously won its NBA Cup opener 135-125 over New York on October.
Author's summary: Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to a flawless group stage NBA Cup victory over the Bulls with 41 points, maintaining Milwaukee’s unbeaten record in this tournament's history.