Brook Lopez Dominates in Milwaukee Bucks' Win Over Chicago Bulls

The Milwaukee Bucks survived an injury scare to their biggest star to top the Chicago Bulls 112-100 on Thursday night. With Giannis Antetokounmpo exiting early due to a wrist injury, Brook Lopez picked up the slack, totalling 33 points with seven rebounds and two assists.

Highlights from last night's WIN vs. Chicago.

⚡️ @we_energies ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/mvPTK5iHng
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 17, 2023

Lopez hit an ultra-efficient 13 of his 18 field goal attempts and continued his dominant defensive play, notching four blocks. The 33 points were his most of the season and only his first 30+ point effort of 2023. For the season, he's averaging 14.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game with a .614 true shooting percentage. He should also get consideration for the NBA's All-Defensive team.

Entering the All Star break, the Bucks are 41-17 and second in the Eastern Conference. So long as Antetokounmpo's injury isn't serious, they'll be one of the NBA's true contenders in the postseason. The core that won the title following the 2020-21 season remains largely intact, and Antetokounmpo is still perhaps the NBA's most unstoppable force; he's averaging a career-best 31.8 points per game at a solid .594 true shooting percentage while adding 12.2 rebounds per game and 5.4 assists per game. Perhaps his only weakness is his free throws: he's down to .646 this season.

The Bucks don't play again until February 24th against the Miami Heat.