A 16-6 run to close a 131-124 victory Tuesday propelled the Milwaukee Bucks to a spot in the quarterfinals of the inaugural NBA in-season tournament.
With the win over the Miami Heat in hand, the Bucks shift their attention to non-tourney matters Thursday against the host Chicago Bulls as Milwaukee aims to apply the lessons they learned in the group stage finale of the tournament.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 33 points Tuesday and Damian Lillard added 32 to pace five double-figure scorers.
Milwaukee’s Pat Connaughton sprained his right ankle in the second quarter and didn’t return.
Chicago encountered its share of injury woes during Tuesday’s 124-97 loss at Boston, the Bulls’ fifth straight defeat and eighth in nine games.
DeMar DeRozan, who matched Coby White with a team-best 19 points, exited midway through the third quarter with left ankle soreness. Zach LaVine (right foot soreness) left the game moments later, finishing with just two points on 1-of-9 shooting.
LaVine is day-to-day as the Bulls aim for a turnaround in the opener of a three-game homestand.
LaVine and others acknowledged the Bulls held enough team meetings and challenged one another to boost their intensity and investment. That gap especially is event defensively. Chicago has allowed 46 made 3-pointers by their opponents over the past two games.
Milwaukee defeated visiting Chicago 118-109 on Nov. 13 in the first of four meetings between the teams this season.
The Bulls have lost their past three to the Bucks, but have stayed afloat behind Nikola Vucevic, who has averaged 19.4 points and 10.2 rebounds in his last 29 matchups versus Milwaukee center Brook Lopez.
It could be tougher sledding for Vucevic on Thursday. Lopez entered Wednesday with a league-best 51 blocks, including 49 in the past 14 games.
