'This is history': See all the memorable photos as fans erupt outside Fiserv Forum after Bucks win title
- JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
- Updated
Tens of thousand of fans crammed Milwaukee's Deer District to watch Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks win their first NBA championship in 50 years. “This is history. I can’t believe I’m seeing this,” said Cisco Claudio, 50, who was there with his son, Noel Patelski, 28, of Milwaukee.
Fans of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrate in “Deer District” outside Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. The space was expanded to accommodate 65,000 fans but still overflowed.
JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
From left, Milwaukee Bucks fans Nate Lauber Shelly Rosenkranz and Chris Daniels, all of Fond du Lac, Wis. celebrate in the “Deer District” outside Fiserv Forum where the team played the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA Championship in Milwaukee, Wis., Tuesday, July 20, 2021. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
JOHN HART STATE JOURNAL
Fans of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrate in the “Deer District” outside Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis., Tuesday, July 20, 2021. The team earned a 105-98 win over the Phoenix Suns to win their first NBA Championship title since 1971. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
JOHN HART STATE JOURNAL
Fans of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrate during the first quarter in the “Deer District” outside Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis., Tuesday, July 20, 2021. The team earned a 105-98 win over the Phoenix Suns to win their first NBA Championship title since 1971. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
JOHN HART STATE JOURNAL
Fans of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrate during the fourth quarter as the team earned a 105-98 win over the Phoenix Suns to win their first NBA championship since 1971.
JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Milwaukee Bucks fans celebrate during the fourth quarter Tuesday night in the Deer District outside Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Jesus Villegas, of Sheboygan, encourages Bucks fans outside Fiserv Forum Tuesday.
JOHN HART STATE JOURNAL
Fans watch history unfold outside Fiserv Forum as the Milwaukee Bucks win their first NBA championship in 50 years.
JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Sam Schmitt of Cross Plains, Wis. has a beer can added to his antler-themed headware in the “Deer District” outside Fiserv Forum where the team played the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA Championship in Milwaukee, Wis., Tuesday, July 20, 2021. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
JOHN HART STATE JOURNAL
Fans of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrate during the fourth quarter in the “Deer District” outside Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis., Tuesday, July 20, 2021. The team earned a 105-98 win over the Phoenix Suns to win their first NBA Championship title since 1971. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
JOHN HART STATE JOURNAL
Fans of Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokoumpo await entrance to the game n the “Deer District” outside Fiserv Forum where the team played the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA Championship in Milwaukee, Wis., Tuesday, July 20, 2021. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
JOHN HART STATE JOURNAL
Milwaukee Bucks fans gather in the “Deer District” outside Fiserv Forum where the team played the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA Championship in Milwaukee, Wis., Tuesday, July 20, 2021. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
JOHN HART STATE JOURNAL
Greg Lambrecht of Milwaukee, Wis. joins Milwaukee Bucks fans in the “Deer District” outside Fiserv Forum where the team played the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA Championship in Milwaukee, Wis., Tuesday, July 20, 2021. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
JOHN HART STATE JOURNAL
Milwaukee Bucks fans in the “Deer District” celebrate outside Fiserv Forum where the team played the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA Championship in Milwaukee, Wis., Tuesday, July 20, 2021. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
JOHN HART STATE JOURNAL
Milwaukee Bucks fans with a “Fear the Deer” slogan incorporated into his braids makes his way through the “Deer District” outside Fiserv Forum where the team played the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA Championship in Milwaukee, Wis., Tuesday, July 20, 2021. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
JOHN HART STATE JOURNAL
Milwaukee Bucks fans gather in the “Deer District” outside Fiserv Forum where the team played the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA Championship in Milwaukee, Wis., Tuesday, July 20, 2021. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
JOHN HART STATE JOURNAL
Milwaukee Bucks fans gather in the “Deer District” outside Fiserv Forum where the team played the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA Championship in Milwaukee, Wis., Tuesday, July 20, 2021. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
JOHN HART STATE JOURNAL
Milwaukee Bucks fans gather in the “Deer District” outside Fiserv Forum where the team played the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA Championship in Milwaukee, Wis., Tuesday, July 20, 2021. BARRY ADAMS, STATE JOURNAL
BARRY ADAMS STATE JOURNAL
Milwaukee Bucks fans watch from the top level of a parking ramp adjacent to the Fiserv Forum’s “Deer District” where the team played the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA Championship in Milwaukee, Wis., Tuesday, July 20, 2021. BARRY ADAMS, STATE JOURNAL
BARRY ADAMS STATE JOURNALRelated to this collection
The Milwaukee Bucks grabbed their first NBA title in 50 years Tuesday in front of a global audience.
Giannis Antetokounmpo ended one of the greatest NBA Finals ever with 50 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots as the Bucks beat the Phoenix Suns 105-98 on Tuesday night to win an entertaining series 4-2
"Great group of guys, hell of a season," Chris Paul said. "But this one's gonna hurt for a while."
The Greek Freak delivered perhaps the best performance of his career at the best possible moment and can now add an NBA Finals MVP award to his two regular-season MVP trophies.
After the game ended, Greece Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tweeted: "Incredible Giannis! Greeks everywhere celebrate!"
The NBA draft, with the Pistons holding the No. 1 pick, is July 29, and free agency starts on Aug. 2.
As the state of Wisconsin celebrates the Milwaukee Bucks’ NBA title, it’s impossible not to be in awe of the Greek Freak.
The NBA Finals MVP ordered 50 Chick-n-Minis at Chick-fil-A — not 51, not 49, just exactly 50 to match the 50 points he scored in the Bucks' 105-98 win over the Phoenix Suns in Game 6.
Loyalty matters to Giannis Antetokounmpo, who grew up dealing with poverty in Greece and was drafted by the Bucks when he was just 18.
Giannis Antetokounmpo's rise coincides with the team's current ownership, which has become the shining example of big-market money taking over a small-market franchise.
As a Milwaukee native who went to high school at Whitnall in Greenfield, Tyler Herro said he was happy for the city after the Bucks won their first NBA championship since 1971.
Bucks fans' emotions got stirred again Thursday as downtown Milwaukee streets filled for a parade and stage celebration where confetti rained down on cheering onlookers.
"I think it is important to recognize that any time there is a large gathering of people, we are going to see the virus spread," Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson said.
The Bucks on Friday officially announced the signings of George Hill, guard/forward Rodney Hood and forward Semi Ojeleye
Kaminsky is entering his seventh season in the NBA after a successful career at UW that included being named national player of the year in 2015.
Forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo re-signed with the Milwaukee Bucks, the team announced on Friday.
The NBA released the schedule for the Dec. 25 quintupleheader on Tuesday, and the Bucks will play host to the Boston Celtics in the second of the day’s games.
The Bucks announced the hiring Wednesday and said Byington is the first woman to work as a full-time television play-by-play announcer for any major men’s professional sports team.
NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo was in Greece for a meeting with the country's prime minister Thursday and a special ceremony to bestow Greek citizenship on his mother Veronica and younger brother Alex.
Shoes, fashion and grit mark P.J. Tucker's journey to Miami, with stop to win NBA title in Milwaukee
"Before I got traded to Milwaukee, Miami was at the top of the list," P.J. Tucker said. "The way they play, the guys, the personnel, I knew the way I would fit in. I've been a Miami fan for a while."
Bobby Portis and Co. know this season will be different. "People are going to start hunting us," Portis said. "It's going to be a championship game every night."
This will be the third NBA season affected at least in part by the pandemic, almost certainly not the last, and some teams revealed that their rosters are 100% vaccinated entering the season.
The NBA released tentative health and safety protocols to its teams Tuesday, detailing how players who haven't gotten the COVID-19 vaccination will be tested far more often than their vaccinated colleagues and face a slew of other restrictions.
With Milwaukee sitting its stars, the Nets beat the Bucks 119-115 on Friday night in an exhibition rematch of last season's Eastern Conference semifinals
Just three months after Giannis Antetokounmpo's 50-point performance secured a title-clinching victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, the Bucks will be raising their championship banner and beginning a new season on Oct. 19.
It's easy to forget about the Milwaukee Bucks: They have the NBA crown, but none of the drama of some other top contenders in the Eastern Conference.
"The narrative about our age, I kind of laugh at it," LeBron James said. "I really do laugh. I'm not just saying that."
Bucks general manager Jon Horst has signed a multi-year contract extension after helping Milwaukee win its first NBA title in a half-century.
Even with holes to fill in his game, Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is already among the best players in the NBA.
He vows to get better following third straight stellar season.
It’s only a matter of time before Giannis Antetokounmpo becomes Milwaukee’s all-time leader in most major statistical categories — and the first records should fall this season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 32 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists in the 127-104 victory at Fiserv Forum.
Miami wins by 42 points, setting team records for opening night scoring and opening night margin of victory.
Khris Middleton scored 28 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo added 21 and the Bucks held on to beat the Spurs 121-111 on Saturday night.
Milwaukee starters Brook Lopez and Jrue Holiday — as well as key backup Bobby Portis — were held out.
Minnesota never trails in its 113-108 victory at Fiserv Forum.
San Antonio's Dejounte Murray scored 16 of his 23 points in the final period and the Spurs pulled away in the last few minutes Saturday night for a 102-93 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks that snapped a four-game losing streak.
Khris Middleton missed Sunday’s game with an illness, causing one more obstacle for a team that already has been playing without usual starters Jrue Holiday, Brook Lopez and Donte DiVincenzo due to injury.
Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez have missed a large portion of the early season, resulting in a 3-4 record.
Forward finishes one assist and two rebounds away from a triple-double.
Julius Randle had 32 points and 12 rebounds, and the New York Knicks erased an early 21-point deficit and beat the Milwaukee Bucks 113-98 on Friday night at Fiserv Forum.
Giannis Antetokounmpo finishes with 29 points and 18 rebounds for short-handed Milwaukee, which has lost five of its past six games.
The Bucks were the first NBA champions to visit the White House in nearly five years, ending a Donald Trump-era hiatus.
Bobby Portis added 19 points for the NBA champions, who played a day after celebrating the franchise’s first title in 50 years with a trip to visit President Joe Biden at the White House.
His flurry of late 3-pointers aid Milwaukee, which blew a 24-point lead.
Reigning NBA Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was scratched about 90 minutes before the game with a right ankle sprain and Boston beat Milwaukee 122-113 in overtime Friday night.
Milwaukee loses for the seventh time in 10 games.
Khris Middleton returns after missing eight games due to COVID-19 and makes consecutive 3-pointers 30 seconds apart early in the fourth quarter to put Milwaukee ahead for good in the 109-102 victory.
Milwaukee never trails but nearly allows Oklahoma City to come all the way back from a 20-point deficit.
Bobby Portis also contributes a double-double as Milwaukee wins its third straight game.
Milwaukee’s 77-36 lead at halftime is the biggest in franchise history.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 33 points, Bobby Portis added 28 and the Bucks won their fifth straight game with a 114-93 victory over the Pistons on Wednesday night.
Forward Khris Middleton eclipses the 10,000-point mark in the rout.
With Brook Lopez sidelined, Milwaukee is reportedly signing four-time All-Star veteran center DeMarcus Cousins.
After a seven-game winning streak, the Bucks have moved back toward the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
"I'm extremely grateful and excited to be here," four-time All-Star DeMarcus Cousins said Tuesday after signing with the defending champion Bucks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored on a driving layup with two seconds left for a 127-125 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.
Fred VanVleet's 29 points lead the Raptors to a 97-93 victory in Toronto.
Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez has undergone surgery to address the back injury that has kept him from playing since the opening game of the season.
Pat Connaughton scored 23 points, and the Bucks avenged an embarrassing loss from the second game of the season, beating the Heat 124-102 on Saturday night despite playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Milwaukee defeats Cleveland for the eighth straight time.
With almost one-third of the season complete, the Bulls seemingly are one of five or six teams in the East harboring realistic hopes of getting to the NBA Finals.
Starting in place of the injured Jimmy Butler, Caleb Martin scored a career-high 28 points and the Miami Heat beat the Milwaukee Bucks 113-104 on Wednesday night.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 41 points and 17 rebounds, and Milwaukee snapped Houston's seven-game winning streak with a 123-114 victory Friday night.
Khris Middleton scored 24 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo had his first triple-double of the season to lead the Bucks to a 112-97 victory over the Knicks on Sunday.
"Having asymptomatic players sitting out — I don't know if that's the answer or for losing extended periods of time, two weeks or 10 days, without any kind of recourse to that," Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists in the 117-103 road loss for Milwaukee, which loses Khris Middleton to a hyperextended left knee late in the third quarter.
Giannis Antetokounmpo will sit out Wednesday's game against Indiana at Fiserv Forum.
There's no game in Chicago on Tuesday, no trip for the Bulls to Toronto for another on Thursday. COVID-19 is disrupting the day-to-day operations of the NBA again.
Jrue Holiday led the way with 26 points and 14 assists as Milwaukee played without Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton.
Milwaukee guard Jrue Holiday scored a career-high 40 points, but it wasn't enough as the Bucks fell 116-112 in overtime with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton sidelined.
The Bucks were without any of their regular starters — four players are in the league's health and safety protocols — during the 119-90 home loss.
The coronavirus-related numbers around the league are skyrocketing, and there’s certainly a strong chance that some teams playing on Christmas this year will be without key players.
Jrue Holiday's 24 points lead the Bucks to a 126-106 victory over the Rockets at Fiserv Forum.
Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and DeMarcus Cousins combined for 72 points against the Mavericks.
Wesley Matthews knocked down a 3-pointer with 30.3 seconds left to give the Milwaukee Bucks their first lead en route to a 117-113 win at Fiserv Forum.
Donte DiVincenzo scored three points and played 16 minutes in Milwaukee's 117-113 win on Christmas Day, but is expected to have a larger role as the season progresses.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 28 points as Milwaukee defeated Orlando 127-110 in the first of two meetings in three days.
Giannis Antetokounmpo's 33 points spurred a 136-118 victory, Milwaukee's fourth in as many meetings with Orlando.
Jordan Nwora scored 23 points behind 5-for-7 shooting from 3-point range as Milwaukee beat New Orleans 136-113 on Saturday night at Fiserv Forum..
Milwaukee had won 12 straight regular-season games vs. Detroit by an average margin of 16.7 points.
Giannis Antetokounmpo sat out with a non-COVD related illness, coach Mike Budenholzer entered health and safety protocols along with three players and Milwaukee couldn't extend a big first half in a 117-111 loss at home.
The Bucks waived veteran center DeMarcus Cousins on Thursday, a day before his contract would have been guaranteed for the rest of the season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 31 points in his return from a one-game illness absence, and the Bucks blew out the Nets 121-109 on Friday night.
Kevin Durant reiterated Friday that he won't lobby teammate Kyrie Irving to get vaccinated against the coronavirus so he could be eligible to play in all the Brooklyn Nets' games.
Giannis Antetokounmpo's 43 points and 12 rebounds weren't enough as Charlotte beat Milwaukee 114-106 on Saturday night, handing the defending NBA champions their third loss in four games.
Milwaukee's record drops to 26-17 after late rally falls short in 103-99 loss to Charlotte on Monday night.
A 138-112 shellacking of the Bulls punched the Nets' ticket as the NBA's most dominant offense ... at least when they're on the road.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 30 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists to lead Milwaukee's 118-99 rout of Golden State on Thursday night at Fiserv Forum.
Pascal Siakam had 30 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for his second career triple-double and Toronto overcame an early 15-point deficit to beat cold-shooting Milwaukee 103-96 on Saturday night.
Former Bucks star and Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson believes it’s critical players in this generation are reminded of what those who preceded them in the game had to endure as the NBA celebrates its 75th anniversary.
Atlanta closes the game on a 35-17 scoring run.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton combined for 60 points in Milwaukee's 126-114 victory over short-handed Memphis.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 30 points and 15 rebounds in Milwaukee's 94-90 victory over Chicago at Fiserv Forum.
Chicago coach Billy Donovan says the flagrant foul that resulted in Milwaukee guard Grayson Allen's ejection Friday night could have caused a serious injury and merits a closer look from the NBA.
Friday's first meeting of the season between the Bucks and Bulls at Fiserv Forum created a buzz that could last for a while.
Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday combined for 60 points in Milwaukee's 133-127 victory Saturday at Fiserv Forum.
Milwaukee Bucks guard Grayson Allen was suspended by the NBA for one game on Sunday for his hard foul on Alex Caruso that resulted in a broken right wrist for the Chicago Bulls guard.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 26 points, but had seven of Milwaukee's 19 turnovers that led to 31 points for Cleveland in the 115-99 decision.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 38 points and 13 rebounds and made numerous big plays in the fourth quarter to help the Bucks beat the Knicks 123-108 on Friday night.
The reigning NBA MVP just missed his 13th triple-double of the season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo's 33 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists powered Milwaukee's 112-98 victory over Washington at Fiserv Forum.
Khris Middleton was chosen as a reserve for the NBA All-Star Game, making it the third third time he and Giannis Antetokounmpo have been on the team together.
Bobby Portis Jr. had a season-high 30 points, including six 3-pointers, and the Milwaukee Bucks handed the Portland Trail Blazers their fifth straight loss, 137-108 on Saturday night.
The Bucks had another dominating third quarter as they pulled away to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 137-113 Sunday night, improving to 2-0 on their West Coast road trip.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 44 points on 17-for-20 shooting to lead the Bucks to a 131-116 victory over the Lakers on Tuesday night.
Deandre Ayton scored 27 points, Mikal Bridges had 18 and the Suns beat Milwaukee 131-107 on Thursday night in a rematch of last year's NBA Finals won by the Bucks.
Serge Ibaka is a 13-year veteran who is a three-time selection to the All-NBA Defensive Team.
The Milwaukee Bucks are optimistic that guard Pat Connaughton will return before the end of the regular season as he prepares to undergo surgery on his broken right hand.
Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t play for the Bucks due to a sore left ankle. Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer said before the game he believes it’s a short-term issue.
Bucks general manager Jon Horst says this might be the deepest team he’s had heading into the stretch run of a regular season, but he'll be seeking more help to fill the open roster spots created when they traded three players to land veteran center Serge Ibaka last week.
Giannis Antetokounmpo missed only 4 of 21 shots from the field as Milwaukee wins 128-119 over Indiana at Fiserv Forum.
The Milwaukee Bucks have signed forward DeAndre’ Bembry less than a week after the Brooklyn Nets waived him.
Joel Embiid had 42 points, 14 rebounds and five assists during Philadelphia's 123-120 victory in Milwaukee.
“As a team, we started playing good basketball towards the end (last season),” Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo said. “Maybe we can do it again. Who knows? We’re in a good place. We have a hell of a team.”
Goran Dragic is signing with Brooklyn for the rest of the season, shoring up the Nets' backcourt and giving them a steady, veteran presence at the point guard position in a year when consistency has eluded the team all season.
The Milwaukee Bucks signed point guard Jevon Carter on Thursday, adding another former Brooklyn Nets player to their roster.
Five of the Nets' eight best players watched from the sidelines as the Celtics routed Brooklyn on Thursday, and only Kyrie Irving among the five is likely to play Saturday at Milwaukee.
With the 126-123 loss to Brooklyn, Milwaukee has dropped four of its past five games.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks are coming out of the All-Star break knowing they've got work ahead just to earn home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Milwaukee scored a season-high 44 points in the second quarter en route to a 130-106 victory over Charlotte at Fiserv Forum.
Jrue Holiday banked in a driving layup with 1.9 seconds left and the defending NBA champions rallied from a 14-point deficit in the final six minutes to beat the Eastern Conference-leading Heat 120-119 on Wednesday night.
Milwaukee's Grayson Allen was suspended by the NBA for one game for his hard foul on Alex Caruso on Jan. 21 that resulted in a broken right wrist for Chicago guard.
Jrue Holiday contributes 26 points, including 10 over the final 5 minutes as Milwaukee beat the Chicago Bulls 118-112 on Friday night.
Jrue Holiday scored 24 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed 19 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out as Milwaukee beat the short-handed Phoenix Suns 132-122 on Sunday for their fourth consecutive victory.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 39 points, and the Bucks defeated the Thunder 142-115 on Tuesday night for their fifth straight win.
Defending champion Milwaukee edged a half-game ahead of idle Philadelphia for second place in the Eastern Conference and moved within two games of first-place Miami.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 31 points and eight rebounds, but the Warriors' defense held the rest of the Bucks down as Golden State won 122-109.
While Brook Lopez and George Hill will return for the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night, reserve forward DeAndre' Bembry was lost for the season with a knee injury.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points and had 15 rebounds to help the Bucks rally and then fend off the Jazz in the final seconds for a 117-111 victory on Monday night.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 36 points and 10 rebounds, Wesley Matthews made a clutch 3-pointer with 1:32 remaining, and Milwaukee held off Sacramento 135-126 on Wednesday night.
Minnesota's Patrick Beverley and Milwaukee's George Hill both get ejected after a first-quarter skirmish.
Entering Tuesday's games, the NBA is on pace for the closest three-man scoring race ever: LeBron James at 29.96 points per game, Joel Embiid at 29.83, and Giannis Antetokounmpo at 29.80.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 25 points and 17 rebounds in his return to action and the Milwaukee Bucks extended their recent mastery of the Chicago Bulls with a 126-98 blowout on Tuesday night.
Giannis Antetokounmpo says the absence of Brook Lopez for much of the season has caused the Milwaukee Bucks to appreciate the 7-foot veteran on a whole new level.
Khris Middleton will miss a second straight game due to a sore left wrist. and Giannis Antetokounmpo will be out for the second time in the last three games because of a sore right knee.
Led by Jrue Holiday with 24 points, the Bucks had enough firepower to beat the slumping Wizards even without either of their All-Stars playing.
Milwaukee goes 7-for-32 from 3-point range in a 127-102 loss to Memphis.
Milwaukee pulled within a half-game of idle Miami for first place in the East.
Scoring 44 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the franchise list and led a 120-119 win in New York.
Robert Covington scored a career-high 43 points and made a franchise-record 11 3-pointers to help the hot-shooting Clippers trounce the Bucks 153-119 on Friday night.
Brook Lopez scored 28 points and six teammates also reached double figures in a 127-106 victory in Chicago.
The 6-foot-3 Vildoza was named the Spanish ACB League Finals MVP in 2020 after helping Baskonia win the league title.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday each scored 29 points in the 127-121 victory at Fiserv Forum.
The Milwaukee Bucks have signed guard Rayjon Tucker after a big season with the G League.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 30 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists to help the Milwaukee Bucks rout the Detroit Pistons 131-101 on Friday night.
Milwaukee rested superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and other regulars in a 133-115 loss in Cleveland to close the regular season.
The Bulls lost all four meetings with the Bucks this season, including 28- and 21-point blowouts in the last two games.
Patrick Williams says Bulls 'can play with any team,' including Bucks. Season series says otherwise.
The Bulls head into Game 1 in Milwaukee on Sunday having lost 15 of their last 22 games, and Giannis Antetokounmpo and the defending champion Bucks are healthy and ready to roll.
Nikola Vucevic found success against the Bucks earlier in the season, averaging 20 points in the first three meetings by popping out for midrange jumpers and 3-pointers and working to the rim for layups and post-ups.
The Bucks swept the season series against the Bulls, who are looking to pull a monumental upset in the playoffs. Here are three keys to doing that.
A leading MVP candidate again this season, Giannis Antetokounmpo likes to compare playing basketball to creating a work of art and he'll try to produce another postseason masterpiece this year.
Milwaukee won all four meetings, the final two by blowouts, this season and 16 of the past 17 games against Chicago.
Chicago's Zach LaVine missed a potential tying 3-pointer from nearly 30 feet away with 29 seconds left.
The Bulls made the Bucks work for their Game 1 win, but if they want to make this a long series, they have to do a little bit more.
The silver lining to the back injury that sidelined Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez for most of the season is that it made him fresher for the playoffs.
Milwaukee leads the best-of-seven series 1-0 heading into Wednesday's game at Fiserv Forum.
Milwaukee's Bobby Portis left Wednesday’s game with a right eye abrasion after the first quarter and Khris Middleton exited with a sore left knee after slipping midway through the fourth quarter.
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said after Milwaukee’s 114-110 loss that Khris Middleton has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee and will undergo an MRI on Thursday.
With Khris Middleton's status up in the air after suffering a sprained MCL, the Bucks may be facing the kind of adversity that can change the complexion of a playoff series.
Milwaukee dominated Chicago 111-81 on Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round playoff series without the injured Khris Middleton.
Khris Middleton sprained his left knee during Wednesday's 114-110 loss at Fiserv Forum and will sit out at least the rest of the first-round series against the Bulls.
Bucks forward Khris Middleton hopes two weeks is all he needs to recover from his sprained left knee and get back to helping his team repeat as NBA champion.
Grayson Allen's rise helps Milwaukee get into position to take a 3-1 lead if it wins Sunday.
Bucks guard Grayson Allen scored 27 points in a 119-95 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
Paul Sullivan: Grayson Allen feeds off boos from Bulls fans in sizzling Game 4 performance for Bucks
Bucks reserve guard Grayson Allen came to Chicago on Friday with a target on his back and dominated the Bulls in back-to-back games, putting them on the brink of elimination in their first-round series.
Chicago star Zach LaVine enters health and safety protocols and could miss Wednesday's game against host Milwaukee.
Milwaukee moves on to face the Celtics, starting Sunday in Boston.
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer offered no new details Friday on Khris Middleton’s potential availability for the defending champions’ Eastern Conference semifinal matchup with Boston.
They split their four regular-season meetings this season, though they never met each other at full strength or with the Celtics’ post-trade deadline starting lineup of Robert Williams, Al Horford, Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart on the floor. That group is 27-7 together this season but hasn’t faced Antetokounmpo with the kind of reliable outside shooters he now has around him.
Giannis Antetokounmpo's second career postseason triple-double leads Milwaukee's 101-89 victory at Boston.
Boston produced its worst offensive performance of this postseason during its 101-89 loss to the Bucks on Sunday, shooting a playoff-low 33% (28 of 84) with just 21 assists and a playoff-high 18 turnovers.
The teams gear up for Tuesday's Game 2 of their Eastern Conference second-round series.
Marcus Smart has a bruised right quad — banged multiple times during Game 1 against the Bucks — that makes him questionable for Game 2 Tuesday night in the Garden.
Boston scored 18 of the game's first 21 points en route to a 109-86 victory over visiting Milwaukee.
Tyler Herro, a Milwaukee native who went to high school at Whitnall in Greenfield, was announced Tuesday as the NBA's top sixth man this season.
Milwaukee's Khris Middleton will miss at least two more games in the Eastern Conference semifinals against Boston as he recovers from a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee.
The Eastern Conference best-of-seven semifinal series resumes Saturday — 4 days after Game 2.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has 42 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in Milwaukee's 103-101 victory over visiting Boston.
Gary Payton II and Ja Morant have suffered injuries during the NBA playoffs, leading to debate over the "code" regarding physical play.
Al Horford and Jayson Tatum each scored 30 points to lead Boston's 116-108 victory at Milwaukee.
Milwaukee and Atlanta will play two preseason games in Abu Dhabi in October, marking the NBA's first games in the United Arab Emirates and the Arabian Gulf.
The 35-year-old's career playoff game was instrumental in Boston regaining home-court advantage during Monday's 116-108 victory over Milwaukee.
Milwaukee trailed by 14 points with 10:16 left in the game.
Road teams have won three of the five games, including the past two, as Milwaukee and Boston square off Friday at Fiserv Forum.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 44 points, 20 rebounds and six assists, but Milwaukee tumbles 108-95 to visiting Boston.
The Celtics host the decisive second-round game due to a superior regular-season record.
Defending champion Milwaukee allowed Boston to make 22 shots from behind the arc.
The three-time All-Star missed the Bucks’ final 10 games after spraining the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in Game 2 of a first-round series with the Chicago Bulls.
He had been on Mike Budenholzer's staff in Milwaukee since 2018.
Hiring Darvin Ham as head coach could be an absolute disaster. Or it could actually work. The only certainty is, the Lakers are such a mess, they have no choice but to take their chances.
Darvin Ham recognizes the enormity of the task he is undertaking with the Los Angeles Lakers, and the former Milwaukee Bucks assistant and first-time head coach is not intimidated.
Bucks general manager Jon Horst said Grayson Allen has undergone a "little procedure" on his left ring finger to deal with an injury that was bothering the guard during the season.
The Bucks believe the hard road MarJon Beauchamp took to the NBA will help the 6-foot-6 wing thrive now that he’s finally made it as the 24th overall pick in the draft.
The 24th overall pick in Thursday's draft says he feels "like I can flourish with this team.”
On a busy first day of free agency, the Bucks re-signed Bobby Portis, Wesley Matthews and Jevon Carter, and added free agent Joe Ingles, according to multiple reports.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis says his new contract won't change the blue-collar approach that helped him earn the big payday.
Bucks guard Pat Connaughton has signed a multiyear contract extension after scoring a career-high 9.9 points per game this past season.
The Milwaukee Bucks have hired former NBA player DeMarre Carroll and former Utah Jazz assistant coach Vince Legarza as assistant coaches.
The Milwaukee Bucks will start the 2022-23 season at Philadelphia and play at Boston on Christmas in highlights of the schedule announced Wednesday.
“He had a discomfort a little bit on his knee, nothing major," Greece coach Dimitris Itoudis said after Monday’s game. "We did not want to risk anything so we decided not to dress him up today.”
Bucks forward Khris Middleton probably won't be available for the beginning of the season after undergoing surgery on his left wrist this summer.
The Bucks re-signed forward Jordan Nwora, a 2020 draft pick who played 62 games last season, averaging 7.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 19.1 minutes per game.
The Bucks return everyone who played meaningful minutes in their unsuccessful title defense, which ended in a seven-game Eastern Conference semifinals loss to the Celtics.
Talent is spread all over the NBA's Eastern Conference. So are the question marks.
Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton is expected to miss the first few weeks of the season with a strained right calf.
After spending much of his career chasing his first title before the Bucks won in 2020-21, Giannis Antetokounmpo now understands what it’s like to have that crown wrested from him.
Wesley Matthews hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 23.8 seconds left to lift the Bucks to a 90-88 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night.
Giannis Antetokounmpo posted 44 points and 12 rebounds while playing less than 28 minutes during a 125-105 rout of the Rockets.
Ben Simmons hasn’t scored more than seven points in any of Brooklyn’s first four games as the Nets have staggered to a 1-3 start.
“Our team is definitely the best defensive team in the NBA,” Brook Lopez said Monday after the Bucks’ 110-108 victory over the Pistons.
Left knee soreness kept Giannis Antetokounmpo out, but Milwaukee made 17 3-pointers in a 108-04 victory over Oklahoma City at Fiserv Forum on Saturday night.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton appears on the verge of making his 2022-23 debut as he returns from offseason wrist surgery.
Khris Middleton had 17 points and seven assists while playing 26 1/2 minutes in his first game since spraining the medial collateral ligament in his left knee April 20.
The Rockets made 11 of 12 free throws, going 5 of 6 in the final minute to put the game away.
Jrue Holiday frustrated former teammate Zion Williamson like few NBA guards can and drained a momentum-changing, late-game shot for good measure as Milwaukee beat New Orleans.
Chicago rallied from a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit to send Milwaukee to its fourth consecutive defeat.
Giannis Antetokounmpo's 41 points and 12 rebounds led Milwaukee's 141-131 road victory against Indiana.
After four decades as the most prolific scorer in NBA history, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is on the verge of being passed by the Lakers’ LeBron James.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is scoring at an unprecedented rate in his extraordinary career, and he also has most of his top teammates playing alongside him again.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has been hobbled by a left calf strain. It's not clear if he'll play Sunday against the Indiana Pacers in Game 1.
Damian Lillard set the franchise mark for points in either half of a postseason game on Sunday against Indiana.
Damian Lillard scored 26 points in the first two quarters but Milwaukee fell to Indiana in Game 2 of their playoff series.
The Bucks fought all the way back from a 19-point first-half deficit against the Pacers.
His playing status for Game 4 against the Pacers on Sunday is still unknown.
Indiana pushed Milwaukee to the brink of elimination Sunday in their first-round playoff series.
Milwaukee got younger in the backcourt by selecting a 19-year-old with the 23rd choice in Wednesday night's NBA draft.
Giannis Antetokounmpo offers a hand to Jaylen Brown only to jokingly pull it back. The Celtics All-Star responds by calling the two-time MVP a "child."
Giannis Antetokounmpo did most of the heavy lifting for Milwaukee, posting a double-double during Sunday's victory over the Nets in New York.
“I believe in this team,” the two-time MVP told reporters Wednesday. “I believe in my teammates. I’m here to lead this team to whatever we can go."
“It’s not about stats no more," Giannis Antetokounmpo said. "It’s about how can we do great things on the court."
The point guard turned in a career-high 51-point performance in March, but it's his play on both ends of the court — and his leadership — earning him high praise.

