Giannis Antetokounmpo turns it up late as Bucks outlast Bulls in OT
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Jim Owczarski on the Bucks loss to Indiana in the In-Season Tournament
Jim Owczarski gives his impressions of the Milwaukee Bucks in Las Vegas during the In-Season Tournament loss to Indiana
The star-deficient Chicago Bulls once again gave the Milwaukee Bucks problems, but unlike their previous contest, the Bucks pulled out a 133-129 overtime victory Monday night at Fiserv Forum.
The Bulls, who won in overtime on Nov. 30 at the United Center without all-stars Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, played without LaVine and Alex Caruso on Monday and saw the Bucks limit all-star center Nikola Vučević to 37.5% shooting.
Yet DeRozan scored a season-high 41 and Coby White scored 33 and the Bulls once again converted a game-tying basket in the final seconds of regulation, this time with DeRozan hitting a short jumper to tie the game with 3.7 seconds remaining to force overtime.
In overtime, the Bucks missed three free throws to keep the Bulls within striking distance until Damian Lillard knocked down a pair with 10 seconds left to clinch it at 133-129.
“It was just great to see our resolve, you know?” Bucks center Brook Lopez said of the team holding Chicago to 11 overtime points — five of which came on free throws. “I thought whoever was put in the action did a great job of stepping up and taking the challenge. Whoever was out there on the floor. Giannis (Antetokounmpo) at one time. Khris (Middleton). Dame (Lillard). Our guys were stepping it up and accepting that challenge.”
Overall Chicago was just 3 of 14 from the floor in overtime, and one of those was an uncontested DeRozan dunk.
“We switched up our matchups, our lineups a little bit, tried to take them off rhythm just a little bit,” Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin said. “I thought the Bulls played a terrific game. Every time we thought we had ‘em down they kind of fought and clawed back in the game. But, when we needed to get stops, we got stops. So that was encouraging.”
BOX SCORE: Bucks 133, Bulls 129 (OVERTIME)
Seven Bucks finished in double figures in points, including Antetokounmpo (32), Lopez (19), Malik Beasley (19), Bobby Portis (17), Lillard (14), Middleton (13) and AJ Green (12). Middleton led the Bucks with 13 rebounds and he also had six assists.
“That’s the beauty of being on a really good team,” Lillard said. “It was not a situation where I have to – obviously I’m not going to get shy, I’m not going to shy away – but I don’t have to feel the pressure ‘I have to do something.’ If I see Brook popping back, I can make that play and he’s a great player, too, and it’s a good play for our team if he makes that shot. If I see Giannis running ahead in transition or in the pocket, or if I pass it ahead to Khris or if Khris is bringing the ball up, these are all good opportunities for us because you’re playing with good players. So, that was it. It’s a luxury. But I think that’s just part of being on a good team where you understand the situation.”
Patrick…
Read More: Giannis Antetokounmpo turns it up late as Bucks outlast Bulls in OT 2023-12-12 05:46:37