Bucks End Five-Game Skid with 131-115 Rout Over Bulls

The Milwaukee Bucks ended their five-game losing streak in dominant fashion Tuesday night, crushing the Chicago Bulls 131-115 at Fiserv Forum behind red-hot three-point shooting. Milwaukee connected on 23-of-38 attempts from beyond the arc (61%), with Kyle Kuzma leading the way with 31 points and Ryan Rollins adding 21 points with 10 assists. The Bucks built a commanding 39-24 first-quarter lead and never looked back, controlling the game for 97% of the contest and leading by as many as 26 points.

Chicago fell to 24-27 on the season with its second consecutive defeat, extending a troubling stretch that has seen the Bulls go 1-5 over their last six games. Matas Buzelis led the Bulls with 22 points and five blocks, while Coby White added 21 points and 10 rebounds in the losing effort. Ayo Dosunmu contributed 17 points and eight assists, but Chicago's defensive breakdowns—particularly on the perimeter—proved insurmountable against Milwaukee's hot shooting. The Bulls remain without Josh Giddey, Tre Jones, and Julian Phillips due to hamstring and wrist injuries, further depleting their already thin rotation.

Milwaukee's Three-Point Barrage Overwhelms Bulls Defense

The Bucks' 61% shooting from three-point range represented a complete reversal from the offensive struggles that plagued them during their five-game skid. Milwaukee's ball movement generated open look after open look, as the Bucks assisted on 33 of their 50 made field goals while committing just 13 turnovers. AJ Green knocked down five of his nine three-point attempts for 17 points, while Pete Nance added 15 points on six-of-eight shooting with three triples off the bench. The Bucks' bench outscored Chicago's reserves 45-30, providing crucial depth that the Bulls simply couldn't match.

Chicago's perimeter defense collapsed under the weight of Milwaukee's shooting performance. The Bulls allowed the Bucks to attempt 38 three-pointers—matching their own attempts from beyond the arc—but Milwaukee's efficiency made all the difference. While Chicago managed a respectable 38% from three-point range (19-of-50), the gap in overall shooting efficiency told the story. The Bucks shot 52% from the field compared to Chicago's 44%, and Milwaukee's 33 assists dwarfed the Bulls' 26, illustrating the difference in offensive execution and ball movement.

First Half

Milwaukee seized control immediately with a dominating first quarter that saw the Bucks outscore Chicago 39-24 while shooting a blistering 60% from the field. Kuzma set the tone with 11 first-quarter points on four-of-six shooting, while AJ Green knocked down three of his four three-point attempts to help Milwaukee build a commanding 15-point advantage. The Bulls' starting lineup struggled to find rhythm, with Coby White managing just two points on one-of-five shooting and Isaac Okoro going scoreless on 0-for-2 from the field. Ayo Dosunmu provided the lone bright spot for Chicago with eight first-quarter points on three-of-four shooting, but the Bulls dug themselves a deep hole that would prove insurmountable.

The second quarter offered little relief for Chicago's beleaguered defense as Milwaukee maintained its offensive efficiency. Ryan Rollins took over the playmaking duties with 10 points and three assists in the period, while Myles Turner added 11 points on aggressive drives to the basket. The Bucks outscored the Bulls 38-28 in the quarter, extending their halftime lead to 77-52. Chicago showed some life offensively with Matas Buzelis contributing nine second-quarter points and Patrick Williams adding six points off the bench, but the Bulls' defensive lapses continued as Milwaukee shot 52% from the field through the first half. The 25-point halftime deficit left Chicago facing a mountain to climb against a rejuvenated Bucks team.

Second Half

Chicago showed fight in the third quarter, mounting their best offensive performance of the night with 37 points on improved shooting. Coby White came alive with 15 points in the period, attacking Milwaukee's defense aggressively and getting to the free-throw line repeatedly. Buzelis added his defensive presence with blocks and Dosunmu continued his efficient play with seven third-quarter points, helping the Bulls outscore Milwaukee 37-28 and cut the deficit to 105-89 entering the final frame. For a brief moment, it appeared Chicago might make a game of it as they found offensive rhythm and began contesting Milwaukee's perimeter shooters more effectively.

Any hopes of a comeback evaporated quickly in the fourth quarter as Milwaukee maintained its composure down the stretch. The Bucks matched Chicago's 26 fourth-quarter points while never allowing the Bulls to trim the lead to single digits. Jericho Sims provided a spark off the bench with six fourth-quarter points, while Pete Nance continued his efficient night with five points in the final period. Chicago's Patrick Williams tried to keep the Bulls competitive with nine fourth-quarter points, but his struggles throughout the game—finishing with a team-worst minus-22 rating in 27 minutes—symbolized the Bulls' inability to find defensive stops when needed most. The final 131-115 margin flattered Chicago slightly, as Milwaukee controlled this game from start to finish.

Key Performers

Kyle Kuzma (MIL) - 31 Points, 10 Rebounds, 6 Assists

Kuzma delivered his best performance in a Bucks uniform, leading all scorers with 31 points on strong 12-of-22 shooting while adding 10 rebounds and six assists in 31 minutes. The veteran forward set the tone early with 11 first-quarter points and never let up, consistently finding seams in Chicago's defense for open looks. His plus-18 rating reflected his impact on both ends, as he helped Milwaukee control the glass and facilitated ball movement that generated open shots throughout the lineup.

Matas Buzelis (CHI) - 22 Points, 2 Rebounds, 5 Blocks

Buzelis led the Bulls in scoring with 22 points on eight-of-16 shooting, adding five blocks in a gutsy performance that showcased his developing two-way game. The second-year forward connected on five of his 10 three-point attempts and contributed throughout all four quarters, including going three-of-three in the fourth when the game was still somewhat competitive. Buzelis's five blocks represented a defensive bright spot on a night when Chicago struggled to contain Milwaukee's perimeter attack, though his minus-7 rating reflected the team's overall struggles. His aggressive approach and willingness to take on increased offensive responsibility with the Bulls' depleted rotation continues to demonstrate growth in his expanded role.

Ryan Rollins (MIL) - 21 Points, 7 Rebounds, 10 Assists

Rollins delivered a complete performance with 21 points and 10 assists, orchestrating Milwaukee's offense with poise throughout the night. The guard shot eight-of-21 from the field and connected on five of his eight three-point attempts, consistently making the right reads and finding open teammates for quality looks. His 10 assists led all players and helped generate Milwaukee's 33 total assists on 50 made field goals, reflecting the ball movement that overwhelmed Chicago's defense. Rollins played a team-high 35 minutes and posted a plus-9 rating, controlling tempo and ensuring Milwaukee maintained its offensive rhythm even as Chicago tried to mount a third-quarter rally.

What It Means

The loss drops Chicago to 24-27 on the season and 9-16 on the road, starting another losing streak at the worst possible time. The Bulls now sit 14 games behind division-leading Detroit and just one game ahead of Milwaukee at 19-29. More troubling than the standings is Chicago's defensive regression—allowing 131 points and 61% three-point shooting reveals fundamental breakdowns that can't be attributed solely to injury absences. The Bulls have now lost five of their last seven games, and their inability to defend the perimeter or generate consistent stops on the road raises serious questions about their playoff viability.

The Bulls' playoff push took a dramatic turn Tuesday as the organization executed two trades ahead of Thursday's 3 p.m. deadline. Chicago acquired guard Jaden Ivey from the Detroit Pistons and veteran Mike Conley Jr. from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a three-team deal that sent Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric to Detroit. Hours later, the Bulls traded center Nikola Vucevic and a second-round pick to the Boston Celtics for guard Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick. Both Simons and Ivey bring young talent to Chicago's backcourt, though the moves raise questions about the future of Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, both unrestricted free agents this summer. The aggressive deadline activity signals a clear direction shift for the franchise as they reshape the roster amid this difficult stretch.

Looking Ahead

The Bulls return to action Thursday night when they travel to Toronto to face the Raptors at 6:30 p.m. on Prime Video. Toronto presents another challenging road matchup for a Bulls team that continues to struggle away from United Center, having lost 16 of 25 road games this season. The Raptors' fast-paced style and emphasis on transition offense will test Chicago's defensive discipline after Tuesday's breakdowns against Milwaukee's perimeter attack. The Bulls desperately need to find defensive answers and establish some consistency if they hope to stop this losing streak before it completely derails their playoff aspirations.