MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo showcased his superstar abilities with a dominant performance, scoring 41 points, grabbing 15 rebounds, and providing nine assists as the Milwaukee Bucks began their NBA Cup title defense with a commanding 126-110 victory against the Chicago Bulls on Friday night.
With this latest win, the Bucks improved their record to 9-0 in the NBA Cup’s group play stage, marking a successful start to the tournament’s third year. Milwaukee previously faced challenges in this event, having lost to Indiana in the semifinals two seasons ago but bounced back to clinch the title last year with a 97-81 win over Oklahoma City.
Antetokounmpo was instrumental in the win, particularly in the fourth quarter where he scored 19 points, helping the Bucks secure their lead. Despite shooting 16 of 32 from the floor, this marked the first time this season he finished below 61.5% shooting efficiency.
In addition to Antetokounmpo’s stellar outing, Myles Turner contributed with a season-high 23 points, while Ryan Rollins added 20 points. For the Bulls, Matas Buzelis notched 20 points and eight rebounds, while Josh Giddey impressed with 16 points, 14 assists, and seven rebounds. Giddey made history becoming the first Bulls player to achieve triple-doubles in consecutive games since Michael Jordan back in April 1989.
The Bulls had previously won their NBA Cup opener against the New York Knicks, 135-125, on October 31. However, Milwaukee took control early in the third quarter, initiating an 8-0 run that widened their lead to 112-99. Antetokounmpo started this pivotal stretch with a three-pointer, then powered through for a dunk on a pass from Rollins, and Turner completed the run with a drive into the lane that resulted in a three-point play.
Notably, the Bucks played without Taurean Prince, who is dealing with a neck strain. Prince’s absence is felt given his contributions to the last two NBA Cup championships as a member of both the Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Bulls welcomed back Ayo Dosunmu, who scored seven points in 20 minutes after recovering from a quadriceps bruise.
Looking ahead, the Bucks will seek to continue their strong performance when they host the Houston Rockets on Sunday, while the Warriors are set to face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night. The Bucks’ momentum is not only promising for their title defense but also serves as a showcase of the depth and talent within the team.