Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 32 points and 17 rebounds as the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks took a 3-1 series lead Sunday with a 119-95 win.
Milwaukee got some major contributions from the supporting cast as Khris Middleton remains out with an MCL injury. Jrue Holiday added 26 points, reserve Grayson Allen took the spotlight with 27 points on 10-of-12 shooting, and Bobby Portis chipped in with 14 of his own.
“I’ve got to trust my teammates,” Antetokounmpo said. “They know what the deal is. They can all make plays. The games become easy when you move the ball.”
According to ESPN Stats & Info, with 32 points, 17 rebounds, and 7 assists on Sunday, Antetokounmpo moved past Charles Barkley and Russell Westbrook for the third-most 30-point, 10-rebound, 5-assist playoff games since the ABA-NBA merger. Only Larry Bird and LeBron James have more.
Allen set a playoff career-high with his remarkable shooting off the bench.
“It’s working,” Bucks’ head coach Mike Budenholzer said when asked about his teammates playfully boo’ing Allen.
“He be hooping when we’re boo’ing him,” Holiday said about Allen.
“I think they’re gonna boo me probably for the rest of the postseason,” Allen said to a reporter when asked about his teammates booing him to ‘create an environment where he thrives.’
Allen is the first player in Bucks franchise history with at least five three-pointers in back-to-back playoff games.
The Bucks now head back home with control of the series and a chance to close the Bulls out on Wednesday in Game 5.
“This is how we have to play,” Antetokounmpo said, reflecting on his team’s performance in Games 3 and 4 of the series.
Chicago has now lost six straight home playoff games; their last win at home came in the 2015 Eastern Conference Finals.
“You got to give them credit,” Chicago’s DeMar DeRozan said of Milwaukee’s performance on the road in the last two games. “They’ve been through it. They’ve won a series without Giannis before. They’re a championship team for a reason.”
Bulls guard Alex Caruso left the game with a facial injury.
“I’m not particularly ready to go home,” Bulls guard Zach LaVine said. “I hope everyone else isn’t.”
Game 5 is Wednesday at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
