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After a few days off, the Milwaukee Bucks return to action on Monday night at the Fiserv Forum against the Chicago Bulls. The Bucks (15-7) are trying to bounce back from not only Thursday night’s loss to Indiana in Las Vegas in the In-Season Tournament semifinals, but a surprising loss. overtime at the Bulls (9-14) on Nov. 30. Central Station.
That was the start of Chicago’s four-game winning streak.
Brook Lopez scored 10 points on 4 of 6 shooting in the opening quarter to give the Bucks a 37-32 lead. All five goals were scored for Milwaukee and Bobby Portis added eight off the bench. DeMar DeRozan and Coby White each had nine for Chicago.
Is Giannis playing?
I do. Giannis Antetokounmpo starts for the Bucks.
Alex Caruso missed for the Bulls
Goaltender Alex Caruso tested his sprained left ankle before the game but was eventually released by Chicago. Caruso hit Brook Lopez’s 3-pointer at the end of regulation to give the Bulls a win over the Bucks on November 30.
Bucks injury report
- Pat Connaughton, out (right ankle) Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin said Connaughton will get some work done on the court on Monday and is expected to be able to return to action in a week. . Connaughton sprained his ankle against Miami on November 29.
- Jae Crowder, out (left adductor surgery)
- Chris Livingstonout (left ankle sprain) Griffin said the rookie injured the ankle during his G League assignment with the Wisconsin Herd.
HOW TO WATCH:Bucks vs. Bulls start time, TV, flow, difficulty
Bucks starting line
- Police: Damian Lillard, Malik Beasley
- In front: Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Location: Brook Lopez
Bobby Portis, Adrian Griffin talk in the locker room after the In-Season Tournament loss to the Pacers
Many of the Bucks players left Las Vegas feeling somewhat disappointed at the end of their 128-119 loss to the Pacers. Antetokounmpo cited the lack of organization on the bad end and said that the players need to perform well under the circumstances. Lillard and Middleton had a breakdown that turned the ball into a center and both talked about getting better at that point.
A Bleacher Report News late Thursday said Bobby Portis interrupted head coach Adrian Griffin’s postgame speech and called for the coach, and the team, to do better.
Both Griffin and Portis spoke to the report on Sunday after practice:
Griffin: “I’m not going to comment on what’s been reported. We’re a happy team. We hate to lose. We’re a cohesive team. I love coaching this team. Nothing we only got the winners and the top guys. The internal discussions happen in our locker room, stay in our locker room. But, we had a great practice today. it’s just ready for Chicago.”
Portis: “Don’t want to talk too much about what goes on in our locker room, what happens in our locker room is just sacred between us. one person, just a competitor, I love to compete, I consider myself a leader, I lead by voice and I lead by example. I’ve been here for over 1,000 days now. here so the guys know me, the guys know who I am, they know I wear my heart on my sleeve, I compete at a high level every day, whether it goes in or not, whether it’s good my game or not, I’m here for the good of the team. So just be the leader, be the voice and whoever has ideas out there , outside of our team, just their. thoughts about me or our team. I’m here for all the right reasons.”
Giannis was named to the All-Time All-Tournament first team
The Bucks’ streak ended early in Las Vegas with a loss to Indiana in Thursday’s semifinals, but his efforts in the six games he played led the team to the In-Season Tournament Antetokounmpo was named to the all-tournament team.
He was joined by tournament MVP LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant and Oshkosh native Tyrese Haliburton.
Antetokounmpo averaged 29 points per game on 64.6% shooting in the Bucks’ playoffs. He also averaged 8.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists.