For most of the first half of Game 1 of their series against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Chicago Bulls appeared outmatched. Giannis Antetokounmpo was unstoppable at the rim. Their defence was suffocating against the Bulls. When the series started, it seemed to be every bit the mismatch we anticipated.
However, the Bulls did not retire quietly. They even had a short lead early in the second half. Milwaukee pulled away in the end, but if Game 1 is any indicator, this will not be a walkover for the majority of fans. Can the Bucks reclaim control of this series? Or will the Bulls force a rematch in Game 2? Everything you need to know about Wednesday’s match is included here.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. (6) Chicago Bulls
- When: Wednesday, April 20 | 9:30 p.m. ET
- Where: Fiserv Forum — Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- TV: TNT | Live stream: FuboTV
- Odds: CHI +400; MIL -550; O/U 225 (via Caesars Sportsbook)
Storylines
Bucks: Milwaukee had a strong start by banging the ball inside. In the first quarter, Antetokounmpo bulldozed his way to the rim with ease. Brook Lopez also had considerable success there. And then… things became more difficult. They concluded with a dismal 42 points in the paint, a few points below their regular-season average despite a strong frontcourt and an ostensibly easy opponent. If the Bucks maintain possession of the paint throughout this series, they will comfortably win. If they allow the Bulls to rehabilitate them as jump shooters? The situation becomes increasingly difficult.
Bulls: You’ve already seen the stats. DeMar DeRozan made 6-of-25 field goal attempts. Nikola Vucevic finished 9th out of 27. Zach LaVine made 6 of 19 shots. Coby White and Tristan Thompson were the only Bulls to shoot 50 percent or better from the field, while no Bulls shot better than 50 percent. It was a disaster of an attacking performance. Milwaukee’s excellent defence had a role, but keep in mind that this is a jump-shooting squad against a defence that pushes opponents to make jump shots. The Bulls should be able to score in this contest, in theory. Game 2 will determine if Game 1 was a fluke or indicative of the matchup’s reality.
Prediction
Neither team was at its best on Sunday, but the Bulls covering the spread with their best players shooting atrociously from the field speaks something about how this series will eventually unfold. The Bucks should be heavy favourites to win the series, but the Bulls are nearly certain to shoot better in Game 2. With that in mind, the Bulls should be expected to cover their double-digit spread once again. Bulls +10 is the selection.
