Chicago Bulls fall to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee Bucks in NBA Cup. 3 takeaways from the 126-110 loss.

Chicago Bulls Fall to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee Bucks in NBA Cup

The Chicago Bulls struggled to contain Giannis Antetokounmpo, who powered the Milwaukee Bucks to a 126-110 victory in the NBA Cup on Friday, scoring 41 points and grabbing 15 rebounds.

Toughness Tested by Giannis Antetokounmpo

On Friday night in Milwaukee, the Bulls faced a harsh reality: few NBA players challenge toughness like Antetokounmpo. With a focus on physicality, the Bulls arrived with a strategy centered on meeting an unstoppable force head-on. The team aims to deliver hard, fast play and then react accordingly.

Bulls’ Defensive Approach and Challenges

The Bulls excel at drawing charges, rotating swiftly, and forcing rivals into poor 3-point shots. This approach has kept them atop the Eastern Conference so far this season. However, facing a 6-foot-11, 242-pound forward who moves through defenders with surprising agility posed a unique challenge.

“Antetokounmpo can dodge around any defender in the league. It just happens that he prefers to go through them.”

This season, Antetokounmpo has wasted no time attacking the basket, averaging 32.3 points through the first three games.

Giannis’ Drive to Win Important Games

Antetokounmpo thrives in meaningful games. In Milwaukee, that includes the NBA Cup, which the Bucks are determined to defend this fall.

Bulls’ Defensive Strategy Against Giannis

The Bulls understood that guarding Antetokounmpo demanded more than individual effort. Slowing him required careful trapping, strong rotations, and the stamina to endure relentless drives across all four quarters.

“Individual defense wouldn’t be enough. Slowing — not stopping — that kind of force would require deft traps and robust rotations and the endurance to withstand four quarters of bruising drives.”

Key Takeaways

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s dominance challenged the Bulls’ strategy and toughness.
The Bulls’ defensive tactics have been effective historically but were stretched against Milwaukee’s forceful offense.
Giannis’ ability to combine strength and agility makes him a formidable opponent in high-stakes games.

Summary: The Bulls’ physical defense faced a daunting test against Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose strength and skill led the Bucks to a decisive NBA Cup victory, highlighting the need for fierce teamwork and endurance.

Chicago Tribune — 2025-11-08