Feb 16, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) shoots against Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) during the first half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Brook Lopez exploded for a season-high 33 points, Jevon Carter chipped in 22 and the Milwaukee Bucks closed out the season’s first half with a 112-100 win over the host Chicago Bulls despite losing All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo to a sprained right wrist in the second quarter on Thursday night.
Antetokounmpo’s injury occurred with 10:55 remaining in the period, when he unsuccessfully swiped at Coby White’s driving layup attempt from behind. Antetokounmpo attempted to land on his feet by bracing himself against the padded basket standard with his right arm. But he fell atop White anyway and immediately grabbed for his right wrist.
The 7-footer left the game for good. His status for Sunday’s All-Star Game was not immediately known.
The Bucks led 34-28 at the time, with Antetokounmpo having contributed two points, seven rebounds and three assists in nine minutes.
The Bucks didn’t let the incident distract them, gradually pulling away to a 25-point lead in the fourth quarter and a 12th straight win entering the All-Star break.
Brook Lopez took over the Bucks W tonight:
– 33 PTS
– 7 REB
– 4 BLK
– 3 3PM pic.twitter.com/0XRMoRp4Db— NBA (@NBA) February 17, 2023
Lopez’s 33 points came on 13-for-18 shooting, including 3-for-6 success on 3-pointers. It was his highest scoring output since 34 against the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA bubble in August 2020.
Carter’s 22 points were his second-most this season, trailing only the 36 he had against the Oklahoma City Thunder in November. He buried 4-for-5 from long range on a night when the Bucks shot 38.3 percent from beyond the arc.
All-Star Jrue Holiday and reserve AJ Green added 15 points apiece and Grayson Allen 10 for the Bucks, who enter the break with the second-best record in the NBA at 41-17.
Holiday also found time for a game-high nine assists.
Nikola Vucevic had 22 points, Zach LaVine scored 18 and Patrick Williams added 16 for the Bulls, who lost their sixth in a row. Vucevic completed his 37th double-double of the season with a game-high 16 rebounds.
Dalen Terry came off the bench to put up 13 points, seven rebounds and a team-high six assists for Chicago, which had beaten Milwaukee in both previous meetings this season.