Our Chicago Bulls met their tanking match at the United Center during a Sunday afternoon clash against a Milwaukee Bucks club without 10-time All-Star power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. Both squads were missing multiple significant contributors. Beyond Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee is also without key combo forward Taurean Prince. Among rotation pieces, Chicago is missing Jalen Smith, Anfernee Simons, Jaden Ivey, Zach Collins and Patrick Williams.
It was a game of runs. Chicago closed out Milwaukee on an epic 39-8 scoring run across the game’s final 13:12 to seal the deal, nabbing the club’s first victory since Jan. 31 — and its first home win since Jan. 24.
The Bulls’ third-longest losing streak in franchise history now ends at 11 contests, tied with a doomed run in January 2000. The lengthiest? 16 in February 2001 and 13 in December 1976.
Billy Donovan leaned on the strategy that had helped him propel probably-unqualified Bulls squads to the past three play-in tournaments, leaning on a wide-open, run-and-gun strategy that eventually wore the Bucks down. In fairness, there was some suspicious coaching activity on the Milwaukee side late.
Even in the first quarter, Chicago heavily emphasized 3-point shooting. 18 of their 21 field goal tries were from the beyond the arc, which K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network notes was just one attempt short of a team record.
After the game was knotted up at 37-37, a massive 16-0 Bucks run across 4:49 in the second quarter got Milwaukee hovering around blowout range, 53-37. A 12-2 Bulls response put Chicago back within single digits. But the Bucks closed things out on an 11-2 run, ending the half up 15, 66-51.
David Banks-Imagn ImagesBulls Obliterate Bucks in Second Half
The Bulls built up a +13 point differential in the third quarter, one of their best such margins all year.
Thanks to the efforts of reserves Collin Sexton and Nick Richards, Chicago notched its biggest lead of the night to that point, 93-89, just 84 seconds into the fourth frame.
But the wheels were already coming off for the Bucks, who were struggling to already keep up with Chicago.
Suspiciously, Milwaukee head coach Doc Rivers put the ball in the hands of Kyle Kuzma even deep into the fourth quarter. That led to stuff like this:
Kyle Kuzma is not a real person pic.twitter.com/rPnylQ2T3O
— Nathan Marzion (@nathanmarzion) March 1, 2026He also passed the rock into the stands during the fourth quarter. Without Antetokounmpo available, Rivers explored more of a ball-sharing approach, giving frontcourt pieces like Kuzma, Bulls alum Bobby Portis Jr., Myles Turner, and Jericho Sims extended play. Kevin Porter Jr. and AJ Green both enjoyed big moments in the first half, but faded in the homestretch.
Heroes of the Day
Josh Giddey scored 20 points, dished out 10 dimes and pulled down 14 boards. The 23-year-old point guard logged his eighth triple-double of the year (his first since Dec. 23), and his 15th overall as a Bull, per Johnson. That represents the second-most triple-doubles recorded in Bulls history, tying him with Scottie Pippen. Pippen, a former Chicago ambassador, was spotted at the game sitting alongside owner Michael Reinsdorf and fellow Bulls Hall of Fame forward Toni Kukoc. Perhaps a reunion in a more official capacity is impending? Matas Buzelis enjoyed another strong two-way showing for Chicago, scoring 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the floor (4-of-9 from distance) and 2-of-2 shooting from the charity stripe, plus seven rebounds. New power forward Leonard Miller had a career night, playing 27:18 off the bench and chipping in 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor and 1-of-1 shooting from the line, as well as a team-best +38 while providing an athletic effort on both sides of the ball. Sexton and Richards both enjoyed strong games off the bench, with Richards establishing himself as the kind of lob threat I’ve wanted for the Bulls since they traded away Daniel Gafford. Sexton scored a team-high 22 points and helped key Chicago’s decisive run late, while Richards scored 11 points and grabbed seven boards.Full Box Score
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