DeMar DeRozan had 36 points and eight assists, and the Chicago Bulls beat the Milwaukee Bucks 118-113 on Wednesday night.
The Bulls began the week with a 6-10 record and having lost four straight but has beaten the NBA’s top two teams. The Bulls ended the Boston Celtics’ nine-game winning streak Monday.
“We’ve had some down moments, losing games in a row, dropping games we feel like we should have won. Getting our butts whooped at home,” DeRozan said. “We’ve went through so many emotions already 20 games into the season. Sometimes that’s beneficial. You’ve got to soak in that hurt.”
Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic scored 18 points apiece for Bulls, and Coby White finished with 14.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 36 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for the Bucks, who lost for just the second time in 11 home games. Brook Lopez scored 20 points and Jrue Holiday had 14 points and 11 assists.
The Bucks committed 20 turnovers that led to 17 points for the Bulls.
“They are a really handsy team and they pack the paint,” Holiday said.
The Bucks led 109-106 before White made a tying 3-pointer with 1 minute, 15 seconds left. After Antetokounmpo was called for a charge, White took a pass from DeRozan and buried another 3 to put the Bulls ahead to stay.
“My teammates trusted me,” White said. “I was just trying to help us win.”
The Bucks turned the ball over on the ensuing possession and DeRozan found Vucevic, who swished a corner 3.
The Bucks had won 17 of 19 games, including the playoffs, against their Central Division rivals.
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“I’m happy with the way we competed,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. “Milwaukee is a great team. They are champions. It’s a great measuring stick but it is only one game.”
The team must focus on consistency, LaVine said.
“We can play against anybody and we can beat anybody but we have to have the same mindset each and every game,” he said. “Hopefully we can start taking these wins and stacking them up.”
Antetokounmpo was limited to eight points on 4-of-11 shooting in the first half. He scored 11 points in the third quarter, but the Bulls held a seven-point advantage heading to the fourth.
The Bulls built a 10-point fourth-quarter lead before the Bucks battled back to tie it midway through the period.
The Bucks led by as many as 12 in the second quarter before the Bulls rallied. Holiday’s buzzer-beating jumper gave the Bucks a 62-61 halftime edge.
Tip-ins
Bulls: Guard Goran Dragic had an MRI and sat out with a left cervical stinger suffered Monday. The injury is causing tingling and numbness in Dragic’s hand, Donovan said. … Donovan was whistled for a technical foul while arguing during a timeout.
Bucks: Milwaukee played the second of four consecutive games at home over a one-week span. … Wes Matthews returned after missing three straight games with a right hamstring strain.
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LaVine was charged with a flagrant-1 foul following a review after he kicked George Hill while attempting a jump shot. The call sent LaVine to the bench with foul trouble.
“It was a good shot, but I hit him in the groin,” LaVine said. “Obviously I didn’t try to. That’s a normal fadeaway for me. I’m glad we got the win and that didn’t affect it.”