Chicago Bulls 132–125 Milwaukee Bucks: match recap

Match recap

The Chicago Bulls outlasted the Milwaukee Bucks 132-125 in a high-scoring affair fueled by a massive bench advantage. Despite the Bucks shooting better from deep, Chicago's depth and aggressive paint scoring proved decisive.

Milwaukee opened with crisp ball movement, piling up 29 assists and shooting 41.3% from three, led by Tyler Herro's 34-point outburst. But Chicago's reserves dominated, outscoring the Bucks' bench 59-35, with Buddy Hield and Leonard Miller combining for 32 points on hyper-efficient shooting. The Bulls also crashed the glass to a dead-even rebounding split (44-44) and scored with greater frequency inside, ultimately overcoming a poor 26.7% three-point night through sheer volume at the rim and the free-throw line. The game spiraled away from Milwaukee in the third and fourth quarters as the Bulls' second unit imposed its will.

Key factors

• Chicago's bench erupted for 59 points, turning a 35-point Bucks bench into a 24-point deficit in the reserves battle.
• The Bulls recorded a 64.2% field-goal percentage, driven by high-percentage paint looks and 25 made free throws, offsetting their 26.7% three-point shooting.
• Milwaukee's defense generated zero turnovers, failing to create easy transition offense against a Bulls team that played cleanly throughout.

The Analyst's take

The numbers point to a Bulls team built on depth and paint efficiency, while the Bucks rely heavily on their starters and long-range shooting. Chicago's ability to overwhelm opposing second units gives them a clear path to wins when their top scorers are sharp, though their reliance on three-point variance cuts both ways. Milwaukee will need more than Herro's scoring to balance their roster against deep teams.