Despite having Damian Lillard back, the Milwaukee Bucks were not able to overcome the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo Saturday night in Chicago against the Bulls, falling 116-111 after taking Monday’s Giannis-less matchup 112-91.
For Milwaukee, Brook Lopez contributed 22 points and 3 blocks while Lillard put up 29 points to go with 12 assists. Khris Middleton scored 21 for the third straight game, a total that remains his season-high in eight 9 games played this year after coming back from injury.
Led by Josh Giddey’s triple-double (23PTS/15 REB/10 ASTS), Chicago’s offensive performance made the difference in the final contest on the schedule between the Central Division rivals. With Giddey, center Nikola Vucevic, and point guard Coby White, the Bulls matched Milwaukee’s three 20+ scorers. On Monday, no Bulls player reached that threshold.
The defeat comes on the heels of a 111-105 loss to the Nets and marks the fourth straight DNP for Antetokounmpo. He had been dealing with a back injury before being ruled out sick for the last two games. Lillard had missed four in a row himself before taking the court Saturday at the United Center, having recovered from his own illness. Unfortunately, his addition was not enough to capture the victory as marginal favorites (line closed at Milwaukee -1.5).
Missing Star and Better Shooting the Difference for the Home Team
After going just 10-48 from distance in their 20-point defeat, Chicago made 14 of 36 threes, a solid 38.9%. They also grabbed a 52 to 43 advantage on the boards, topped by 13 from Vucevic. The defense held Bucks shooters to 40.2% from the field, including a 5-17 night from sixth man Bobby Portis, inserted into the starting rotation whenever Giannis is absent.
While the Bucks have managed without him, the impact of the Greek Freak on both ends of the floor is not to be underestimated. Losing his length and tenacity not only affects Milwaukee’s paint protection and rebounding, it also hurts their ability to close out on shooters. Although some of those duties can be dumped onto Lopez, obviously the 36-year-old does not bring the explosiveness of the Bucks’ two-way star.
In the teams’ earlier two meetings in the Fiserv Forum, Giannis also led all scorers with 38 and 41 points. It has been a so-so start for the Bucks, but he continues to be a perennial member of the MVP conversation. His 32.6 PPG in 2024-2025 is the highest of his career.
He was replaced in the lineup by Andre Jackson, who went 0-3 in tonight’s game to finish scoreless in 23 minutes. Going back to December 21, Jackson has averaged 4.5 points as the substitute power forward.
When Will Milwaukee Bucks Get Giannis Back?
Versus Chicago, he was listed as questionable in the injury report before being downgraded to out. The Bucks next game is not until Tuesday in Indiana (15-17), so it seems plausible that he has a decent shot to play. The Pacers play the second-place Celtics on Sunday. Tuesday will be their sixth game in 9 days. If Boston doesn’t blow them out like they did on Friday, allowing starters to sit, they may come in tired from battling the title-repeat favorites.
Anxious as fans are to have Giannis back, if he’s still feeling a bit under the weather and needs another rest day, it will not be the worst thing in the world.
The Bucks are now 3-3 in games in games Giannis has missed, and 2-1 when also missing Lillard, but the sooner they can reunite their two superstars, the better. Milwaukee is approaching the point last season when Adrian Griffin was fired with the team 30-13. Dropping to 16-14 with the loss, Doc Rivers still has time to prove that his NBA Cup-winning squad belongs among the beasts of the east.
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