Giannis Antetokounmpo takes the Bucks to the Bulls over Game 5 Clincher

GIANNIS Antetokounmpo has picked up a 30-point mark for the third time in the last four games as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the visiting Chicago Bulls 116-100 to advance to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs on Wednesday night.

The two-time MVP finished 15-for-11 shooting with 33 points and nine rebounds, leading Milwaukee to its first post-season series win against the Bulls since 1985.

Reserve Pat Canton added 20 points from the bench and Bobby Portis added 14 points with 17 rebounds. Grayson Allen posted 13 points, Brooke Lopez 12 and Jaru Holiday 10 points and nine assists.

Along with Zach LaVine in the league’s health and safety protocol, Patrick Williams led Chicago with 23 points in a -13 shoot for the 9th. Nikola Vusevich finished with 19 points and 16 rebounds, and reserve Kobe White went for 17 points.

Bulls all-star Dimmer DeRozan scored just 11 points, while Troy Brown, Jr. scored 10 points.

The Bulls launched a season-high 52 3-pointer at night, but only 15 fell (28.8%).

The box went to the break with a 60-42 lead, trailing 23 points in an 8-for-9 shootout from AntitoCoumpo. Milwaukee was leading by 29, but the Bulls halved 22-11 at 7:11 to close the gap.

Chicago’s defense was shattered in the first half, as the Bulls scored 34 points on box paint compared to 16.

Williams led Chicago with 12 points through first 24 minutes of action and White added 11. They were the only two bulls with more than six points.

A 3-point game from Ayo Dosunmu led Chicago to 11 for 13 with 9:32 left in the third quarter, but it was the closest.

Portis answered with a pair of 3-pointers and the Bulls would go on to score at least 15 for the rest of the game.

Milwaukee started fast, jumping to a 16-point lead with 61.9% shots from the first quarter. Antetokunampo exploded during the frame, posting 15 points and six rebounds. – Reuters