The Milwaukee Bucks just dropped their home opener to the Chicago Bulls, a tough 132-125 loss that puts them at a stunning 0-2 to kick off the season. This is the first time since the 2015-16 campaign that the Bucks have started with two straight Ls, and man, does it feel like a missed opportunity against their I-94 rivals.
Hot Start, Then the Wheels Get Wobbly
Milwaukee actually came out firing, making a huge first impression on the Fiserv crowd. Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Tyler Herro were straight fire, combining for nine quick points as the Bucks jumped out to a dominant 16-6 lead. It felt like they were in control, even stretching that lead to 26-13, then closing the first quarter up big, 32-17, after AJ Green drained a triple. But man, these two young squads got sloppy. Seven combined turnovers hit the stat sheet, and there was a long stretch where neither team could buy a bucket until Norman Powell finally hit an eight-foot bank shot.
The Bulls weren’t just gonna roll over, though. Chicago stormed back in the second quarter with a quick 10-4 run. Second-year guard Kasparas Jakučionis flashed some serious potential, throwing a perfect lob pass to Ware, splashing a corner three, and then finding a wide-open Ryan Rollins for another bomb. That spurt had the Bulls creeping back, but the Bucks still held a 13-point cushion, forcing Bulls head coach Tiago Splitter to call a timeout. And holy cow, Chicago came out of that timeout like a freight train, ripping off an insane 21-7 run to take their first lead since they were up 2-0, capped by a Leonard Miller triple. Kyle Kuzma, of all people, stepped up big for the home side, scoring five crucial points in the final minute to put Milwaukee back in front at the half, up 62-61. What a ride!
Offensive Fireworks, But a Tough Finish
Tyler Herro kept his scorching start going right into the second half, adding five more points and an assist on a Kuzma three-pointer in the opening minutes. Both teams were absolutely cooking on offense, trading blows like heavyweights. At one point, the Bucks were shooting a ridiculous 8/12 from beyond the arc, while the Bulls weren’t far behind at 8/11. There was barely any resistance on defense, it was just buckets for days.
The Bucks managed to claw out a five-point lead with under three minutes left in the third after a sweet pass from Jakučionis to Brayden Burries for a three, followed by a Ware hook shot. You’d think they’d close strong, right? Nope. After Jaquez hit a fadeaway jumper with eight seconds left, Milwaukee let Chicago score at the buzzer. Jalen Smith slipped the pick and threw down a huge slam, giving the Bulls some insane momentum. That final basket gave Milwaukee a paper-thin lead heading into the fourth, barely clinging on at 104-102.
Ultimately, the Bucks just couldn’t hold on, dropping that home opener 132-125. An 0-2 start is never what you want, especially when you’re supposed to be a contender. Tyler Herro’s 34 points, five rebounds, and four assists were a bright spot, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Norman Powell’s 25 or Caleb Wilson’s 21 for the Bulls. With the regular season just getting started, the Bucks have to figure out how to close games and avoid those early season stumbles, or this 0-2 start could turn into a real problem fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Brew Hoop.
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