Bucks handle Bulls, 112-99
After Milwaukee turns back several comeback attempts, a late flurry seals the deal.
CHICAGO - The Milwaukee Bucks didn't trail at any point during the final three quarters on Monday night, but that doesn't mean they were really ever comfortable, either.
Every run that seemed to put them on the edge of breaking the game open was summarily answered with a spurt from the Chicago Bulls. That made for an interesting finish, when after the Bucks took their largest lead at 14 points with five minutes to go, the Bulls responded with an 11-0 run to get within a basket with just under three minutes to go.
But the Bucks weren't about to drop consecutive games for the first time this season. Point guard Eric Bledsoe saved his best for last, releasing any tension with a personal 5-0 spurt with a three-pointer and a pair of free throws. A Khris Middleton steal led to a pair of free throws for Malcolm Brogdon then Bledsoe added another triple and Brook Lopez added an exclamation point to a 112-99 victory at the United Center with a slow-motion drive for a hammer dunk to cap a 12-0, game-deciding run.
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo wasn't a major offensive force during that final stretch – he did record his fourth block of the night and his 17th rebound during that time, though – but he shouldered the load for much of the night.
When the Bucks ran into offensive ruts, which happened at multiple junctures, Antetokounmpo was often the one to bail them out. He sliced through Chicago's defense for multiple dunks, layups and trips to the free-throw line on the way to 29 points on 9 of 13 shooting, including swishing two three-pointers in three tries. In his 35 minutes, Antetokounmpo was a team-high
plus-21.
His impact was especially noticeable in the third quarter when after leading by just one at halftime, he led helped the Bucks finally gain a bit of a cushion during a 15-4 run to open the third quarter. In that period alone, he scored 10 points, including entering led to help turn a one-point advantage into an eight-point margin heading into the fourth quarter as he hit Pat Connaughton for a layup, spun for a dunk of his own then popped in a layup to close the quarter.
Bledsoe finished with 19 points thanks to his game-ending flourish.
Early in the game, though, it was Ersan Ilyasova who provided the most substantial lift. He came off the bench and went on a personal 8-0 run to get Milwaukee's offense unstuck, popping a three-pointer, depositing a tip-in then adding another triple.
Ilyasova's contributions off the bench helped cut a five-point first-quarter deficit down to two and Antetokounmpo then did his part, securing and and-one to put Milwaukee ahead, 22-21, heading into the second quarter.