The first-round playoff series between the sixth-seeded Chicago Bulls and the third-seeded Milwaukee Bucks is over, with the Bucks taking the best-of-seven series in five games.
The Bulls lost all four meetings with the Bucks during the regular season, including 28- and 21-point blowouts in the last two games. The reigning NBA champions are led by two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who hasn’t lost a regular-season game to the Bulls since Dec. 27, 2017.
- Jan. 22:
- March 4:
- March 22:
- April 5:
The Bulls were 1-14 in the regular season against the top four Eastern Conference seeds — the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers. This was the Bulls’ first postseason appearance in five years.
Here are the results of the playoff series:
Game 1: Bucks 93, Bulls 86
In the fourth quarter of any game, the Chicago Bulls are always comfortable with a single-digit deficit and the ball in DeMar DeRozan’s hands. That has been a tried-and-true formula throughout DeRozan’s first season in Chicago.
But in Game 1 against the Bucks. He didn’t make a fourth-quarter basket until 2:11 remained in the game, going 1-for-7 in the quarter and taking only two free throws in the second half.
- with the Bucks — but a chance to steal home court slips away
- , Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević — who shot below 30% in Game 1 — to pull off an upset
- — and what they can do to win Game 2
- in Game 1 against the Milwaukee Bucks. Here’s what worked.
Game 2: Bulls 114, Bucks 110
DeMar DeRozan is a man of his word. He proved that to Bulls fans, to cement a 114-110 win that evened the first-round playoff series at a game apiece.
The Bulls star didn’t disguise his frustration after Game 1, promising he wouldn’t repeat his 6-of-25 shooting performance. DeRozan spent Tuesday night on the Fiserv Forum court, putting up shots to regain the rhythm lacking in the opening loss.
- win gives the Bucks something to worry about
- in their Game 2 win. Will it be enough to swing the series?
- to miss the rest of their series vs. the Bulls with a sprained MCL
- gives the Bulls a boost in playoff series with Bucks
Game 3: Bucks 111, Bulls 81
The Bulls returned to the United Center for their first playoff game in five years with home-court advantage and the momentum of a road win at their back.
But they as the Bucks bounced back like a reigning NBA champion to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round series.
- the United Center — but Grayson Allen plays the villain to perfection
- to the Milwaukee Bucks: ‘We moved way, way too slow’
Game 4: Bucks 119, Bulls 95
The Bulls delivered hope in Game 4 of their series with the Bucks. That was an improvement, at least, for fans at the United Center after the beatdown of Game 3.
The offense matched blows with the Bucks throughout the first half, avoiding an early hole. Patrick Williams finally delivered on his young promise, scoring 20 points in his best performance of the playoffs. The Bulls scored more transition points in the first half (6) than they had in any game in the series so far.
But all that didn’t matter when Giannis Antetokounmpo woke up. The Bucks star carved open the Bulls defense with surgical accuracy, scoring a series-high 32 points. With Antetokounmpo slicing the Bulls open on both ends of the court, the .
- from Bulls fans — and his Bucks teammates — in a sizzling Game 4 performance
- and is questionable to play for the Bulls in Wednesday’s Game 5
- on DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, the Bulls aren’t getting help from their bench
- after the Bulls star enters health and safety protocols for 3rd time in the last year
Game 5: Bucks 116, Bulls 100
The Bulls season ended with an air of inevitability Wednesday night as the team crumpled against the Bucks to close their best-of-seven first-round series.
The Bulls’ chances went from unlikely to grim after starters Alex Caruso (concussion) and Zach LaVine (COVID-19) were both ruled out of Game 5 early Wednesday. Bucks fans weren’t excited as they trickled into Fiserv Forum — they were expectant.
The only unexpected part of the loss was DeMar DeRozan’s stat line.
- had to deal with adversity all season, and Game 5 was no different
- , DeMar DeRozan sets a high bar for his Bulls teammate: ‘Max player, max talent, max everything’
()
