MIWAUKEE WIN! The Bucks defeat the Bulls 118-109 thanks to double-doubles from Antetokounmpo and Portis

MILAN, The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Chicago Bulls 118-109 on Monday night, led by double-doubles from Bobby Portis and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who finished with 35 points and 11 rebounds.

A graphic featuring a photo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis high-fiving. Text on the graphic reads, "Bucks 118, Bulls 109."

After missing two games due to a calf injury, Damian Lillard of Milwaukee made his return to action, although he only made three of his seventeen shots while scoring twelve points. In the two games the Bucks were without the seven-time all-NBA guard, they were defeated.

A graphic featuring a photo of Giannis Antetokounmpo mean-mugging after scoring a basket. Text on the graphic reads, "Player of the Game. Giannis Antetokounmpo. 35 PTS, 11 REB, 59 FG%."

The Bulls were in action for the second straight evening following their 119-108 victory over the Detroit Pistons at home on Sunday.

Bobby Portis scored a season-high 19 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.

Antetokounmpo, Portis produce double-doubles in Bucks' 118-109 victory over Bulls

Khris Middleton of Milwaukee scored 13 points to move up to fifth place on the Bucks’ career scoring chart, surpassing Michael Redd.

Redd finished his Bucks career with 11,554 points, while Middleton has 11,559 since joining the team in 2013. Antetokounmpo (16,575), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14,211), Glenn Robinson (12,010), and Sidney Moncrief (11,594) are the top four scorers for the Bucks.

Antetokounmpo, Portis produce double-doubles in Bucks' 118-109 victory over Bulls - Newsday

Leading the Bulls with 26 points and 12 rebounds was Nikola Vucevic. Zach LaVine scored twenty, DeMar DeRozan eleven, Coby White sixteen, and Patrick Williams thirteen. DeRozan only made three of his fourteen shots.

Milwaukee led Chicago 35–18 in the first quarter and scored the first nine points of the game. Antetokounmpo sealed the victory with his 500th career 3-pointer, a buzzer-beating shot. Of Chicago’s first 19 field goal tries, 16 were missed.

Antetokounmpo, Portis produce double-doubles in Bucks' 118-109 victory over Bulls - The San Diego Union-Tribune

With 5:15 remaining in the third quarter, an Andre Drummond putback gave the Bulls their first lead as they gradually closed the 17-point deficit. Over the course of the next minute or so, the lead changed hands three more times before a Portis basket gave Milwaukee the lead back.

With a 12-0 run that began with Portis’ shot, the Bucks were able to take back a double-digit lead, 81-70. The Bucks led by eight points going into the fourth quarter and maintained that lead for the remainder of the game.

Due to a toe injury, Alex Caruso was out for the second straight game for Chicago. Jae Crowder, who is expected to miss around two months due to surgery on Tuesday for an adductor and abdominal injury, was not present for the Bucks’ opening game.