CHICAGO (Interstat) — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 29 points to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 112-103 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night at United Center. The Bucks, who led by just four points at halftime, pulled away in the second half behind Antetokounmpo’s efficiency and a disruptive defense that forced 15 Bulls turnovers. Milwaukee’s Ryan Rollins added 20 points. Josh Giddey led Chicago with 13 points and nine assists. The Bucks improved to 13-19, while the Bulls fell to 15-16. Attendance was 20,934.

CHICAGO (Interstat) — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 29 points in his return from an eight-game absence, and the Milwaukee Bucks snapped the Chicago Bulls’ five-game winning streak with a 112-103 victory on Saturday night at United Center. The two-time MVP, who had been sidelined by a right calf strain, added eight rebounds in 25 minutes in his first game since Dec. 3. His presence catalyzed a Bucks team that had lost six of its last eight games, providing a critical lift against a surging Bulls squad. A crowd of 20,934 saw the Bucks leverage a disruptive defensive performance to overcome a sluggish offensive start. Milwaukee forced 15 Chicago turnovers, converting them into 21 points, while committing only 10 giveaways themselves. The Bucks also tallied 12 steals, doubling the Bulls’ total, which helped fuel their transition game and offset a 16-5 disadvantage in offensive rebounds. The game’s pivotal sequence arrived late in the fourth quarter with the outcome still in doubt. After Chicago’s Nikola Vucevic hit a 20-foot jumper to cut Milwaukee’s lead to 98-96 with just under two minutes remaining, the Bucks responded with a decisive 7-0 run. Antetokounmpo drew a foul on Josh Giddey and sank two free throws. Following a defensive stop, AJ Green buried a 26-foot 3-pointer off an assist from Kevin Porter, pushing the lead to 103-96 with 2:57 left. After another Bulls miss, Antetokounmpo drove for a layup to extend the margin to nine, effectively sealing the game. Milwaukee’s supporting cast was instrumental. Ryan Rollins scored 20 points and Bobby Portis added 17 points and 11 rebounds off the bench. Porter facilitated the offense with nine assists. The Bucks shot 46.5% from the field and 79.2% from the free-throw line, outperforming Chicago’s 41.9% shooting. The Bulls were led by Josh Giddey, who finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and nine assists. Nikola Vucevic scored 16 points and Zach Collins contributed 10 points and 10 rebounds. However, Chicago’s offense, which entered the game on a historic scoring run, was held in check. The Bulls managed an offensive rating of 103.4 points per 100 possessions, well below their recent output, while Milwaukee posted a 116.2 rating. Chicago built an early 10-point lead in the first quarter, but Milwaukee closed the period on a 12-2 run to take a 28-26 advantage. The Bucks never trailed again, methodically building their lead to as many as 14 points in the third quarter. Each time the Bulls mounted a charge, Milwaukee had an answer, often stemming from their defensive activity. The victory improved Milwaukee’s record to 13-19, while Chicago fell to 15-16. The Bucks also beat the pregame point spread, as Chicago had been installed as a 5.5-point favorite. The total score of 215 fell well under the over/under line of 235.5. Milwaukee travels to face the Charlotte Hornets on Monday. Chicago will host the Minnesota Timberwolves, also on Monday.

Preview: Bucks Visit Bulls in Central Division Showdown CHICAGO (Interstat) — The Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls will meet for the second time this season Saturday night at United Center, with both teams looking to build momentum heading into the new year. The Bulls (14-15) enter as the home favorite, holding a slightly better record than their division rival. Chicago has won four of its last five games, including a 126-123 victory in Atlanta on Tuesday. Josh Giddey has been instrumental in that surge, averaging a triple-double of 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 10.2 assists over his last five contests. His playmaking, alongside consistent scoring from Nikola Vucevic and Coby White, has fueled one of the league’s top offenses during this stretch. Milwaukee (12-18) snapped a three-game skid with a 111-94 road win over Indiana on Tuesday. The Bucks are led by guard Kevin Porter, who is coming off a 24-point, six-rebound, five-assist performance against the Pacers. Porter has been a bright spot in a challenging season, posting near-triple-double numbers frequently, but Milwaukee has struggled with consistency on both ends of the floor. In their first meeting on Nov. 7, the Bucks dominated the Bulls 126-110 in Milwaukee. Porter scored 31 points in that contest, while Giddey recorded 22 points, eight rebounds and nine assists for Chicago. The matchup pits two of the NBA’s most prolific playmaking guards against one another. Porter’s scoring burst and Giddey’s all-around facilitation will be key focal points. The Bulls will aim to leverage their recent high-scoring form against a Bucks defense that has allowed 112.3 points per game. Milwaukee will need secondary scoring, likely from Ryan Rollins and Kyle Kuzma, to complement Porter’s output to keep pace. This game opens a critical three-game homestand for Chicago, while Milwaukee continues a road-heavy portion of its schedule. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CST Saturday.