Bucks Zone

The Milwaukee Bucks bounce back with a win versus the Chicago Bulls

The Bucks remain undefeated at home.

Matthew Dugandzic

© Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
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The Milwaukee Bucks squandered a 17-point lead but recovered in time to beat the Chicago Bulls, 118-109, on Monday night at the Fiserv Forum.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis Jr. both turned in double-double performances to help the Bucks snap a two-game losing streak and improve to 6-4 in the season.

It was Milwaukee’s fourth straight win at the Fiserv Forum, where they are 5-1. Antetokounmpo collected 35 points and 11 rebounds, while Portis came off the bench to contribute 19 points and 10 rebounds.

It was the fifth time this season that Giannis scored 30-plus points. Khris Middleton added 13 points, while Damian Lillard marked his return from a two-game absence with a 12-point performance.

Solid first-quarter start

After back-to-back losses to the Indiana Pacers and the Orlando Magic, the Bucks started strong and scored the game’s first nine points. Milwaukee would go on to post their biggest lead in the contest when Giannis ended the first quarter with a buzzer-beater triple, giving the Bucks a 35-18 lead.

The Bucks built a 59-49 cushion at the half, but the lead evaporated when the Bulls raced to a rampaging start in the third.

Weathering the storm

The Bulls racked up six unanswered points as part of a 19-8 rally that shoved them ahead 68-67. With the Bulls threatening to take control, the Bucks regrouped, uncorking a 12-0 that turned a 69-70 deficit into an 81-70 lead with only 1:57 left in the third.

The Bucks restored another 17-point lead in the fourth, 100-83 when Khris Middleton hit a fade-away jumper with 7:36 left. It was all Milwaukee from that point, as Chicago got no closer than nine points the rest of the way.

Nikola Vucevic led the Bulls with 26 points and 12 rebounds, while Zach Lavine contributed 20 points and eight boards. Coby White added 16 points, while DeMar DeRozan managed just 11 points for the Bulls, who dropped to 4-7 in the season.

The reason for the Bucks' slow start to the season

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.