The Milwaukee Bucks showcased their playoff readiness with a convincing 113-97 win over the Chicago Bulls during Friday’s NBA action, driven by Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s dominant performance of 46 points and 16 rebounds.
This victory marked a significant milestone for Antetokounmpo, who became the winningest player in Bucks history with his 489th win, surpassing Sidney Moncrief‘s record. The game also extended Milwaukee’s winning streak to five.
Despite several heated moments and Nikola Vucevic‘s ejection from the Bulls, the game lacked drama as the Bucks led comfortably by halftime and surged further ahead with a decisive 17-0 run in the fourth quarter. Their defensive efforts have been notably stronger lately, conceding less than 100 points for the fourth consecutive game.
“We’re winning games, but for us, it’s not about right now,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. “Our whole key is getting ready. That’s the first thing I told them. We still have work to do, we’re still pushing, we got to get better. It’s nicer to get wins than to lose, but we’re not where we want to be yet.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls Updates
Antetokounmpo highlighted the importance of unity and consistency in defense, attributing recent successes to everyone being on the same page.
“Everybody has to be on the same page, and I feel like the last couple of games, we’re doing that and that’s why our defense has taken a step,” said Antetokounmpo. “Hopefully, we can keep it up.”
The game also featured significant contributions from Damian Lillard and Patrick Beverley, who helped secure the victory against the Bulls for the third time this season. Meanwhile, Chicago’s DeMar DeRozan reached a personal milestone by joining the league’s 23,000-point club despite expressing frustration over officiating after the game.
“I think as far as officiating, just call it fair,” DeRozan said. “I think that’s more so where the frustration comes from. When we come down, we feel like we getting hit. They come down and we barely touching them but they’re getting the call. That kind of stings. Just the fairness of the calls I kind of think was the main focal of our frustration more so than anything.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls Updates
The Bucks’ commanding lead at halftime and their ability to extend it in the second half underscored their championship aspirations and roster depth, even in the face of adversity.
As Milwaukee looks ahead to their next game against the Los Angeles Clippers, the team remains focused on refining their gameplay and building on their winning momentum. The Bulls, facing their challenges, will aim to bounce back against the Sacramento Kings.
