The Bucks return to Chicago after a convincing 112-91 victory over the Bulls on Monday, despite missing All-Stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton stepped up in their absence, each scoring 21 points to lead Milwaukee.
Antetokounmpo and Lillard were also unavailable in Thursday’s 111-105 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. Lillard has now missed four consecutive games due to a calf injury and illness.
“No excuses,” said Bobby Portis following Thursday’s defeat. “We lost, they won. Move on to Saturday, get a win, feel good, and go into Indiana (and) the new year. That’s it.”
The Bucks have two games remaining in 2024: Saturday in Chicago and Tuesday in Indiana. Their season has been a mix of highs and lows, including a seven-game win streak from Nov. 18 to Dec. 3, following a rough 2-8 start.
Antetokounmpo leads the NBA in scoring with 32.7 points per game, while Lillard is averaging 25.7 points and 7.5 assists. Despite their star power, Milwaukee is just three games above .500 and ranks in the middle-to-lower tiers in several team statistics. Their offense has dipped, scoring 112.5 points per game (16th in the league), a drop of 6.5 points compared to last season. However, their defense has improved, allowing 111.2 points per game, down from 116.4 a year ago.
Monday’s win over Chicago featured one of Milwaukee’s best defensive performances of the season, limiting the Bulls to 91 points on 36-of-90 shooting (40%) and 10-of-48 from three-point range (20.8%) while forcing 15 turnovers.
On the other side, Chicago averages 117.7 points per game, ranking sixth in the league, led by Zach LaVine (22.3 ppg), Nikola Vucevic (20.7), and Coby White (17.7). However, their defensive struggles have left them five games under .500, allowing 121.8 points per game—second-worst in the NBA.
The Bulls’ defense faltered late in Thursday’s 141-133 loss to Atlanta, giving up 50 points in the fourth quarter and squandering a 17-point lead.
“We need to figure out how to weather the storm,” said LaVine, who scored a season-high 37 points in the loss. “That can’t happen. It’s unacceptable.”
Chicago might get a boost with the potential return of Josh Giddey, who has missed the past four games with an ankle injury. Giddey is averaging 11.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and a team-high 6.9 assists.
“A lot will depend on how he responds (after a workout Thursday) and then likely another one (on Friday),” said Bulls coach Billy Donovan regarding Giddey’s status.