Giannis makes a strong return, Bucks demolish Vucevic-led Bulls / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AP-Scanpix Credit AP-Scanpix

Jrue Holiday finished with a game-high 27 points as the Milwaukee Bucks (45-27) earned a 126-98 (33-20, 26-23, 32-26, 35-29) win over the visiting Chicago Bulls (42-30) on Tuesday night to record their fifth consecutive home win.

Player of the Game EFF 33 Giannis Antetokounmpo Points 25 Accuracy 9-12 Rebounds 17 Assists 5

Holiday added seven assists and cashed in on 12 of his 17 field goal attempts to lead the Bucks over their division rival for the third time this season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo supplied 25 points and 17 rebounds to notch his third straight double-double, and reserve Pat Connaughton chipped in 14 points while all five starters scored in double figures.

Milwaukee was extremely efficient all night, finishing with its second-highest field goal percentage (61 percent) this season.

Nikola Vucevic finished with a team-high 22 points and seven rebounds on 9-of-15 shooting for Chicago. DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine each added 21 points, and Ayo Dosunmu tallied seven off the bench.

The Bucks made 55 percent of their field goals (22 of 40) in the first half to go into the break with a commanding 16-point lead. Milwaukee had led by as much as 26, but the Bulls closed the second quarter on a 10-0 run to trim the deficit.

Antetokounmpo had a double-double in the first half alone, pacing the Bucks with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Brook Lopez added 10 points, and Connaughton scored nine. Milwaukee also dominated on the glass, hauling in 28 rebounds compared to Chicago's 16.

Vucevic led all scorers with 15 points, and LaVine added 12. Chicago got just four points from its bench, while the Bucks got 18.

The Bulls brought things within 10 in the third quarter, but Milwaukee answered and extended its lead to 22 by the fourth. Despite his team's struggles, DeRozan caught fire, scoring 12 points.

Antetokounmpo got off to a fast start, collecting 10 points and five rebounds in the first quarter. Eight of those points came during a 13-0 run over the final 3:17 of the frame which allowed the Bucks to jump out to an early 33-20 lead.

Bucks: Jrue Holiday 27 (10/12 2PT, 2/5 3PT, 7 AST), Giannis Antetokounmpo 25 (8/10 2PT, 6/9 FT, 17 REB, 5 AST, 3 BLK, 9 TO), Pat Connaughton 14 (3/7 3PT), Wesley Matthews 11, Serge Ibaka 11.„Bulls“: Nikola Vucevic 22 (5/10 2PT, 4/5 3PT, 7 REB), Zach LaVine 21 (2/9 2PT, 4/7 3PT, 7 AST), DeMar DeRozan 21 (9/18 2PT, 1/5 3PT).

Giannis Antetokounmpo highlights

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