Bucks Begin NBA Cup Title Defense with Victory over Bulls
The Milwaukee Bucks, powered by Giannis Antetokounmpo's 41 points, opened their NBA Cup title defense with a 126-110 win against the Chicago Bulls, the Eastern Conference leaders, on Friday (Saturday, Manila time).
Giannis Antetokounmpo's Dominant Performance
The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player also contributed 15 rebounds, nine assists, two steals, and two blocked shots. He scored 19 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Bucks to pull away and end their two-game losing streak. Entering the game, Antetokounmpo averaged 32.3 points per game.
Bulls' Key Players and Standings
- Matas Buzelis led the Bulls' offense with 20 points.
- Australian guard Josh Giddey, fresh from consecutive triple-doubles, added 16 points, seven rebounds, and 14 assists.
- Despite the effort, the Bulls lost their position as East leaders to the Detroit Pistons.
The Pistons secured a fifth straight win by defeating the Brooklyn Nets 125-107, with Cade Cunningham scoring 34 points.
NBA In-Season Tournament Context
Friday was the second day of group-stage play in the NBA's in-season tournament, now in its third year. All 30 teams are divided into six groups of five, competing in round-robin matches that also impact regular-season standings.
“The Greek star's latest big performance helped Milwaukee halt a two-game skid.”
Author's summary: Giannis Antetokounmpo's stellar 41-point performance led the Milwaukee Bucks to a decisive NBA Cup opener win over the Bulls, shifting Eastern Conference dynamics early in the season.
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