Updated March 1, 2026, 5:02 p.m. CT
CHICAGO – The Milwaukee Bucks faced another setback this season, suffering a 120-97 defeat to the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on March 1.
Chicago, which had not won a game in February and was on an 11-game losing streak, managed to overcome a 15-point halftime deficit to secure the win against Milwaukee.
The Bulls excelled in the second half, outscoring the Bucks by 38 points, aided by 18 turnovers from Milwaukee and a dismal shooting performance that saw the Bucks convert only 3 of 23 attempts from beyond the arc in the final 24 minutes.
This loss also meant the Bucks could not complete a four-game season sweep against the Bulls.
With only six weeks remaining in the regular season, this defeat was a significant blow to the Bucks’ play-in aspirations, as the Bulls were one of only six teams left on Milwaukee’s schedule with a worse record. The Bucks are set to host the Boston Celtics at 6:30 p.m. at Fiserv Forum on March 2, with the Celtics currently vying for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
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BOX SCORE: Bulls 120, Bucks 97
The Bulls entered the game with the fourth-worst scoring defense in the league, allowing an average of 120.5 points per game. For a half, this seemed to be a remedy for a Bucks team that ranks fifth worst in offense, averaging 112.1 points per game and struggling to score against stronger teams.
Milwaukee faced little resistance offensively in the first half, with nine turnovers being their only significant issue as they shot 52% overall and 43% from three-point range. Chicago managed to stay close, scoring 11 points off those turnovers, but the Bucks utilized runs of 17-0 and 11-2 in the second quarter to lead 66-51 at halftime.
However, the Bucks could not maintain their lead, as they continued to turn the ball over at the start of the second half, leading to a rapid decline in their performance.
Milwaukee committed six turnovers in the third quarter and shot just 2-for-10 from three-point range. Chicago capitalized on this, going on a 21-7 run during the quarter, which included five turnovers from the Bucks, four personal fouls, and a technical foul on Kevin Porter Jr. for arguing with a referee over a non-call.
Chicago began the fourth quarter with a 21-0 run, part of a larger 27-0 run that extended from the end of the third quarter, completely erasing the Bucks’ 15-point halftime lead and shifting the momentum entirely in favor of the Bulls.
Milwaukee head coach Doc Rivers called two timeouts within the first 2 minutes and 24 seconds of the fourth quarter, but by then, the Bucks had lost control of the game, and the Bulls were in command.
The Bucks did not score in the final 1:23 of the third quarter or the first 6:09 of the fourth, with Porter finally making two free throws. They missed their first 14 shots of the final quarter, with their only field goal coming from an Ousmane Dieng dunk with 3:12 remaining in the game.
The last basket for the Bucks prior to that was a three-point play by Cam Thomas with 83 seconds left in the third quarter, which had put the Bucks ahead 89-81.
The Bucks came dangerously close to setting a record for the fewest points scored in a quarter by a single team in regular season history (five points, held by Denver in 2015 and Miami in 2016) but managed to score some late points.
In the second half, the Bucks struggled to contain newly acquired Bulls guard Collin Sexton, who contributed 10 points and two assists in the pivotal third quarter, finishing with 22 points off the bench.
Matas Buzelis scored 20 points, while Josh Giddey recorded a triple-double with 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists for Chicago.
The Bucks were led by Bobby Portis Jr., who scored 18 points off the bench, while Cam Thomas added 15 points. AJ Green (13), Ryan Rollins (11), and Kyle Kuzma (10) also reached double figures.
More Matinee Madness for Bucks
The Bucks entered the game against the Bulls with a poor record in matinee games (games starting between 1-5 p.m. CT), holding a record of just 1-6 and being outscored by a total of 113 points in those games.
Their performance in afternoon games had worsened over the season, with their last three midday losses being by margins of 45 (at Brooklyn on Dec. 14), 28 (at Boston on Feb. 1), and 28 points (vs. Toronto on Feb. 22).
While the loss to the Bulls was not as severe in terms of points (23), it represented a 38-point swing after halftime.
Under Rivers, the Bucks conduct shootarounds before games as mini-practices, and players often revisit the game plan after victories as a benefit.
When asked about the team’s struggles in afternoon games (which typically do not include a shootaround), Rivers initially dismissed the concern but later acknowledged the challenges of preparing for early start times, particularly against a team like the Bulls.
“I didn’t like afternoon games as a player. I couldn’t stand them. Because it took your norm away. It’s so funny, I always felt like either you start the game well or not, and when you don’t, damn near game’s over before you feel like (warmed up). It’s too late. It’s hard. When you start off slow, it’s hard to catch up,” Rivers stated.
After the Bulls game, the Bucks will have six more matinee games before the end of the regular season. Rivers noted that the coaching staff had considered the upcoming schedule but emphasized that it is challenging to normalize routines, recalling his time coaching the Los Angeles Clippers, who often had noon games on weekends to accommodate evening Lakers games.
“We were just hoping that the team we played had the day off the night before,” Rivers joked. “L.A. was one hell of a homecourt advantage for those afternoon games. I will say that. But, the problem was, I didn’t know what our guys were doing. But it may (normalize). I’m hoping. We have a lot of young guys, so they haven’t played a lot of these games. I don’t know. We do talk about it and try to change up things. That’s all you can do.”
5 Numbers
- 6.1: Percent chance the Bucks had at making the playoffs (a top six seed) heading into the game, per ESPN analytics.
- 13.9: Percent chance the Bucks have at winning a top four pick in the NBA draft lottery heading into the game per the lottery-tracking website www.tankathon.com.
- 28.3: Percent chance the Bucks had at making the play-in (seeds 7-10) heading into the game, per ESPN analytics.
- 5-5: Bucks record in the first games of a back-to-back.
- 14-10: Bucks record against teams with a record below .500 on the day of the game.
Is Giannis Playing?
No.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is currently in the final stages of rehabilitation from a right calf strain sustained on January 23. He had predicted a recovery time of four to six weeks following the injury, and he is now in the sixth week of that process.
What is the Bucks Record Without Giannis?
11-17
What Time is the Bucks Game?
The game is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. CT.
What Channel is the Bucks Game On?
The game will be broadcast locally on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin, featuring Lisa Byington, Wesley Matthews, and Stephen Watson on the call.
NBA Playoff Standings
The Bucks are currently outside the postseason picture. Here are the play-in standings in the Eastern Conference as of March 1:
- No. 7: Orlando (31-27): The Bucks and Magic have split the season series 1-1. The Bucks will host the Magic on March 8.
- No. 8: Miami (32-29): The Bucks and Heat have split the season series 1-1. Milwaukee will travel to Miami on March 12.
- No. 9: Charlotte (30-31): The Bucks hold the tiebreaker over the Hornets, having won the season series 3-1.
- No. 10: Atlanta (30-31): The Bucks lead the season series 1-0. Milwaukee will host the Hawks on March 4 and then travel to Atlanta on March 14.
- No. 11: Milwaukee (26-32): The Bucks have fared better against play-in teams to date, with a record of 5-13 against the top six seeds in the conference.
The four teams in the play-in will compete against each other to determine the final two playoff teams, with the teams holding the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds needing to win only one game to advance, while those holding the Nos. 8 and 9 seeds must win twice to progress.
Milwaukee Bucks Injury Report
- Taurean Prince, out (neck surgery)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, out (right calf strain)
- Thanasi Antetokounmpo, out (illness)
Bucks Starting Lineup
- Guards: Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr., AJ Green
- Forward: Kyle Kuzma
- Center: Myles Turner
Bucks vs. Bulls Odds
Milwaukee is a 3.5-point favorite over Chicago, with the over/under set at 229.5 points, according to BetMGM.
