NBA Cup: Milwaukee Bucks Begin Title Defence With Win Against Chicago Bulls

Giannis Antetokounmpo narrowly missed a triple-double, scoring 41 points, grabbing 15 rebounds, and providing nine assists as the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Chicago Bulls 126-110. This victory marked

the start of their NBA Cup title defence. The Bucks have maintained a perfect 9-0 record in group play since the NBA Cup's inception in the 2023-24 season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder began their NBA Cup campaign with a decisive 132-101 win over the Sacramento Kings. Isaiah Hartenstein set a career-high with 33 points and added 19 rebounds, helping the Thunder bounce back after losing to the Portland Trail Blazers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 30 points for Oklahoma City, who now hold a 9-1 record.

Milwaukee's triumph over Chicago was aided by Myles Turner, who scored 23 points and secured eight rebounds. Ryan Rollins also played a crucial role with his contribution of 20 points and six rebounds. The Bulls' Matas Buzelis managed to score 20 points and grab eight rebounds, while Josh Giddey added 16 points and provided 14 assists.

The Toronto Raptors continued their strong form in group play by defeating the Atlanta Hawks 109-97. Toronto outscored Atlanta by a significant margin in the second half, securing their fourth consecutive win. Brandon Ingram led with 20 points, while RJ Barrett added another 19 for Toronto.

The Detroit Pistons extended their winning streak to five games by defeating the Brooklyn Nets 125-107. Cade Cunningham was instrumental with his performance of 34 points and ten assists. Jalen Duren also shone with his contribution of 30 points and eleven rebounds for Detroit.

Brooklyn's Michael Porter Jr. scored an impressive 28 points despite their loss, which dropped them to a disappointing record of 1-8. The Nets are currently tied with the Washington Wizards for the worst record in the league so far this season.

Thunder's Quest for Redemption

Oklahoma City is aiming to return to the NBA Cup final after falling short against Milwaukee last year. Ajay Mitchell supported this effort by scoring 18 points and providing ten assists during their recent victory over Sacramento.

Sacramento suffered its most significant defeat of the season against Oklahoma City. Former Thunder player Russell Westbrook led Sacramento with his performance of 24 points, nine assists, and six rebounds during this challenging game.

The Raptors' Scottie Barnes achieved a double-double with his tally of fourteen points and ten rebounds against Atlanta. Jakob Poeltl also contributed significantly with twelve points and ten boards for Toronto as they improved to a record of five wins and four losses overall.

The Milwaukee Bucks' success in group play is highlighted by Giannis Antetokounmpo's consistent excellence. He has been named MVP of every NBA Cup edition so far and remains an integral part of Milwaukee's strategy as they aim for another title defence this season.