Josh Giddey’s triple-double spoils Damian Lillard’s return in Bulls win

Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
Bulls top Bucks, 116-111, in Damian Lillard’s return to lineup jsonline.com/story/sports/n… via @journalsentinel – 12:22 AM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Doc Rivers: “I thought their most valuable player all game was Josh Giddey. Even before he made 3s. He didn’t even have to make a 3. He just pushed the ball up the floor, got into the paint and just created havoc. He dominated and controlled the entire game.” – 11:26 PM

Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
actually unhinged collection of nicknames for Josh Giddey pic.x.com/tXugcZJ7PP – 11:00 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Damian Lillard took his final shot of the night with 5:07 remaining tonight in Chicago.
Before I could ask a question, Bucks coach Doc Rivers started his answer: pic.x.com/p3nxKET0d5 – 10:41 PM

Chuck Swirsky @ctsbulls
Bulls beat the Bucks behind Josh Giddey’s triple- double. Hold my beer Milwaukee ! Time to dance! pic.x.com/F2qpDiiVjg – 10:32 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
FINAL: Bulls 116, Bucks 111
– Lillard 29pts/6reb/11ast
– Lopez 22pts/7reb/3ast
– Middleton 21pts/6reb/4ast
– Portis 14pts/9reb/4ast
The Bucks are now 16-14 on the season after back-to-back losses to the Nets and Bulls. – 10:21 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Damian Lillard tonight:
29 PTS
6 REB
11 AST (0 TOV)
First Buck in franchise history with multiple 25/10a games on 0 TOV. pic.x.com/2TWq1MpohH – 10:20 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Josh Giddey tonight:
23 PTS
15 REB
10 AST
First Bull with multiple triple-doubles in a season since Jimmy Butler in ’16-’17. pic.x.com/2cFAi0j59A – 10:20 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Khris Middleton had a chance to tie it on a swing-swing, but he drove and missed a pull-up. Giddey grabs the rebound, gets fouled and hits two free throws.
Bulls up, 115-111, with 10.3 seconds left. – 10:18 PM

KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Giddey gets rare closing time and making huge plays at both ends – 10:17 PM

Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
That’s a big finish in transition from Patrick Williams to put the Bulls up 111-108 with 50.6 seconds left.
Preceded by another strong drive-and-kick combo from Coby White, who set up Josh Giddey to bury a 3-pointer. – 10:14 PM

KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Very strong individual D from Giddey led to PWil steal and FB layup – 10:14 PM

KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Josh Giddey has his 2nd triple double as a Bull – 10:10 PM

KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Giddey in for Ball, who is at 19 minutes. Looks like Giddey may close with Dosunmu out – 10:09 PM

KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Lillard on a 9-0 run by himself – 9:57 PM

Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
Damian Lillard got his pass tipped by Lonzo, somehow recovered the ball, then drove to the basket for a reverse layup and a foul.
Bucks take a 97-95 lead. – 9:57 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Damian Lillard told us that he was worried about his conditioning coming off an illness and that has played out thus far as he has been short on multiple jumpers, but he just pick-six’d that pass from Giddey.
Bulls up, 69-66, with 7:47 left in the third quarter. – 9:25 PM

Joe Cowley @JCowleyHoops
Quick timeout from Billy after that Giddey BS pass. – 9:24 PM

Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
Josh Giddey has put up a few notably physical contests for rebounds tonight. Leads the team with eight rebounds and has the only two offensive rebounds for the Bulls so far tonight. – 9:22 PM

Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
Bulls let their lead slip down to two points at the half.
Leading 62-60.
Coby White and Josh Giddey lead scoring with 11 points apiece. – 9:02 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Half: Bulls 62, Bucks 60
– Middleton 17pts/4reb/2ast
– Lopez 12pts/2ast/2blk
– LIllard 11pts/3reb/5ast
– Portis 9pts/3reb/2ast
The Bucks can do a lot better in their pick-and-roll defensive coverage in the second half. Feels like the easiest way for them to flip this game. – 9:02 PM

KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Bulls 62, Bucks 60 at half
Bulls never trailed, shot 17-21 in paint with 20 assists
Giddey 11 pts, 6 assists, 5 rebs
White 11 pts
Vucevic 10 pts, 5 rebs, 4 assists
Middleton 17 pts
Lopez 12 pts
Lillard 11 pts – 9:01 PM

KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Lonzo Ball not only fouled a 3-point shooter but foul got upgraded to flagrant-1 following video review. Khris Middleton completed the 4-point play and Damian Lillard scored for 6-point Bucks possession. – 8:58 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
After not scoring for the first two minutes, Khris Middleton finds Damian Lillard for a catch-and-shoot 3 from the right wing in semi-transition to get the Bucks on the board.
Away we go in Chicago… – 8:13 PM

Joe Cowley @JCowleyHoops
The boys are mostly back tonight – Matas, Lonzo, Giddey all back. Only Ayo and his strained calf will be in street clothes. Ayo is shut down for at least 10 days and then will be re-evaluated. I took a pre-med class at Kent, so I’m basically a doctor. Out til Mid-Jan. – 6:36 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Damian Lillard starting to get loose in Chicago. pic.x.com/FEED2BN9RP – 6:28 PM

Chuck Swirsky @ctsbulls
Giddey, Ball, Buzelis in…. Smith out vs Bucks – 6:18 PM

KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Per Billy Donovan:
Josh Giddey; in
Lonzo Ball; in
Matas Buzelis; in
Jalen Smith; out
vs. Bucks – 6:17 PM

Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
📈Damian Lillard will try to play vs. Bulls tonight.
Full Milwaukee Bucks injury report: What is the latest on Giannis Antetokounmpo?
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jsonline.com/story/sports/n… via @journalsentinel – 5:37 PM

Chuck Swirsky @ctsbulls
NBA reporter Chris Haynes reports Damian Lillard will return to the Bucks lineup after missing four games with a calf strain and illness. Bulls-Bucks :6:45 @670TheScore @ChrisBHaynes – 4:19 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Bucks point guard Damian Lillard chatted with reporters after today’s shootaround in Chicago.
Here is what Lillard had to say about his four-game absence, right calf strain, illness and the possibility of playing tonight vs. the Bulls: pic.x.com/Unie7n3wLC – 1:19 PM

Chris Haynes @ChrisBHaynes
Sources: Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard (calf, illness) will make his return tonight against the Chicago Bulls after sitting out the previous four contests. pic.x.com/QA2bwbcTK8 – 12:45 PM