NBA: Bucks beat Bulls for third straight win
Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on March 04, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bucks defeated the Bulls 118-112. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images/AFP
Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded his sixth consecutive double-double on Friday night as the visiting Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Chicago Bulls 118-112 to extend their win streak to three games.
The two-time MVP poured in a game-high 34 points, 16 rebounds and five assists on 12-of-22 shooting to lead the Bucks past Chicago for the second time in two games this season.
Jrue Holiday added 26 points and eight rebounds, and Khris Middleton notched 22 points.
Jrue Holiday has been CLUTCH in Q4 for the @Bucks on ESPN!
14 PTS (6-8 FGM) in the fourth-quarter.@Bucks: 116@chicagobulls: 112
15 seconds remaining pic.twitter.com/thr4EfStG9
— NBA (@NBA) March 5, 2022
Despite a rough third quarter, Milwaukee finished strong, outscoring the Bulls 18-10 over the final 5:13.
Zach LaVine paced Chicago with 30 points, eight rebounds and six assists on 13-of-26 shooting. DeMar DeRozan tallied 29 points, and Nikola Vucevic supplied 19 along with nine rebounds.
The Bulls shot a crisp 50 percent from the field (47 of 94) but went to the free throw line just 11 times, making eight. Meanwhile, the Bucks cashed in on 22 of 33 attempts at the line.
Momentum had shifted late in the third quarter after a layup from Vucevic gave the Bulls their first lead since late in the first. It turned into a 14-5 Chicago run into the final frame.
Both teams shot at least 50 percent from the field in the first half, but six 3-pointers and 26 points in the paint helped Milwaukee go into the break with a narrow 57-53 lead. Antetokounmpo led all scorers with 15 points, and Middleton and Bobby Portis each added 12.
Came to Chicago on business & left with a win. pic.twitter.com/MunzZMyCHn
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) March 5, 2022
The Bulls had trailed by 14 but outscored the Bucks 20-10 over the final 6:15 of the half to keep things close. LaVine led the way with 13 points, and DeRozan and Vucevic followed with 12 and 11, respectively.
Chicago also profited off its defense, scoring 11 points off 10 Milwaukee turnovers.
After a tight first quarter, the Bucks opened the second on a 16-4 run to build a 12-point edge. Antetokounmpo had eight points during the surge, and all four of the Bulls’ points came from DeRozan.
