Lopez scores 28, Bucks beat Bulls 127-106 to clinch Central

CHICAGO (AP) — Brook Lopez scored a season-high 28 factors and the Milwaukee Bucks overcame a fairly quiet efficiency from Giannis Antetokounmpo to clinch their fourth straight Central Division championship with a 127-106 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night time.

The defending NBA champion Bucks haven’t been on a run like this since Don Nelson’s groups gained seven consecutive division titles within the Eighties.

They took management early and got here away with a simple win although DeMar DeRozan scored 40 for Chicago.

Antetokounmpo, attempting to overhaul LeBron James and Joel Embiid in a decent race for his first scoring title, completed with 18 factors, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. However the two-time MVP began sluggish and spent a lot of the fourth quarter on the bench after choosing up his fifth foul.

Lopez had his greatest efficiency after lacking a lot of the season due to a again harm. Khris Middleton scored 19.

Grayson Allen and Bobby Portis added 13 factors apiece because the Bucks accomplished a four-game season sweep of the Bulls.

DeRozan did all he might to hold Chicago, with two-time All-Star Zach LaVine sidelined due to ongoing soreness in his left knee.

Patrick Williams added 18 factors. Nikola Vucevic struggled, going 3 of 19 and scoring seven factors. He did draw loud cheers when he knocked Allen to the ground early within the fourth quarter, delighting followers indignant about Allen’s exhausting foul earlier this season on Chicago’s Alex Caruso that resulted in a damaged wrist.

However the Bulls as soon as once more misplaced to an elite opponent. They’re a mixed 2-20 in opposition to the highest 4 groups within the East and West.

Chicago additionally fell to sixth place within the Jap Convention, a sport behind Toronto with three to play. The Raptors beat Atlanta.

Vucevic hit a nook 3-pointer for Chicago simply earlier than the halftime buzzer and DeRozan hit a jumper within the opening seconds of the third to chop it to 58-48.

Milwaukee regrouped and pushed the result in 21, solely to have the Bulls get inside 10 once more late within the third. Two free throws by Antetokounmpo within the closing minute of the quarter and a 3 from the highest by Jrue Vacation made it 96-80 earlier than DeRozan hit jumper to chop the margin to 14 heading to the fourth.

TIP-INS

Bucks: Antetokounmpo was obtainable regardless of a sore proper knee.

Bulls: PG Lonzo Ball skilled one other setback in his restoration from surgical procedure for a torn meniscus in his left knee, elevating extra doubt about whether or not he’ll play once more this season. Ball felt some discomfort after he tried to ramp up actions once more following a 10-day pause, coach Billy Donovan stated. Donovan stated the subsequent step will most likely be a “assembly of the minds” within the subsequent day or two. And the opportunity of Ball lacking the rest of the season is “on the desk.” Ball has not performed since Jan. 14. … Donovan stated he didn’t essentially get the sense that LaVine might want to miss a bit of video games, although his standing for Wednesday’s matchup with Boston was in query.

UP NEXT

Bucks: Host the Boston Celtics on Thursday.

Bulls: Host the Celtics on Wednesday.

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