Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with a dominant performance, posting 41 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists. He scored 19 points in the fourth quarter alone, helping Milwaukee secure the win after a close contest through three quarters. Antetokounmpo shot 16-of-32 from the field, his first game this season shooting under 61.5%, and added a 3-pointer to spark an 8-0 run late in the game. Antetokounmpo was supported by Myles Turner, who had his best game since joining the Bucks with 23 points, and Ryan Rollins, who added 20.
For Chicago, rookie Matas Buzelis impressed with 20 points and eight rebounds, while Josh Giddey nearly notched another triple-double, finishing with 16 points, 14 assists, and seven rebounds. Giddey had registered triple-doubles in his previous two games, becoming the first Bulls player since Michael Jordan in April 1989 to achieve the feat in back-to-back contests. The Bulls, who won their NBA Cup opener 135-125 against New York, were unable to contain Milwaukee’s offense in the second half.
The Bucks pulled away for good early in the third quarter and used a late surge to build a double-digit lead. Notably, Milwaukee played without Taurean Prince, sidelined by a neck strain. Chicago welcomed back Ayo Dosunmu, who scored seven points in 20 minutes after missing two games.
Milwaukee will look to continue their strong Cup run as they host Houston on Sunday. The Bulls, meanwhile, will try to regroup ahead of their next matchup. For detailed player stats and quarter-by-quarter analysis, visit the ESPN game summary.
The Bucks’ early dominance in NBA Cup group play continues to highlight their status as title contenders. With Antetokounmpo in MVP form and solid contributions from new additions like Turner, Milwaukee appears poised for another deep run in the competition.