Bulls 116-111 Bucks (December 28, 2024) Game Recap

Bulls 116-111 Bucks (December 28, 2024) Game Recap

CHICAGO – Josh Giddey recorded his second triple-double of the season with 23 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, leading the Chicago Bulls to a 116-111 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night.

Giddey, who had missed the last four games with an ankle injury, sank two free throws with 10 seconds left to make it 115-111 and then tied it with a rebound as Chicago ended a three-game losing streak.

Nikola Vucevic had 23 points and 13 rebounds. Coby White, who scored 22 points, made a game-winning jumper with 32 seconds left.

Damian Lillard returned to the lineup with 29 points and 12 assists, but the Bucks lost for the second straight game. The star guard scored 18 points in the second half as Milwaukee was without NBA scoring leader Giannis Antetokounmpo (due to illness) for the fourth straight game.

Brook Lopez had 22 points and Khris Middleton scored 17 of his 21 in the first half. Middleton, who was under a minutes restriction after offseason ankle surgery, played sparingly in the second half before scoring two key baskets late.

The Bulls led 62-60 at halftime after jumping to two 13-point leads.

Takeaways

Bucks: It took a while for the 34-year-old Lillard to warm up. He pulled Milwaukee back into the game and scored 35:28.

Bulls: Chicago responded to a 141-133 loss at Atlanta on Thursday with a tougher performance as the Hawks rallied from a late 21-point deficit to score 50 points in the fourth quarter.

Key moment

The Bulls had built a seven-point lead early in the third period before the Bucks got back on their feet and took the lead for the first time at 75-72 on Bobby Portis’ 3-pointer midway through the quarter. Milwaukee led 84-83 after three plays, but Chicago used a 10-0 run to pull it close.

Key statistics

Chicago defeated Milwaukee 56-42.

Next

The Bucks play in Indiana on New Year’s Eve. The Bulls are in Charlotte on Monday.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

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