Bulls Snap Two-Game Skid, Beat Bucks 125-104 in Preseason

Bulls snap the skid. Chicago beat Milwaukee 125-104 on the road, a response after back-to-back preseason losses to the Grizzlies and the Nuggets. The Bulls led by as many as 11; the Bucks' only lead of the night was 1. Two lead changes, no ties once the first quarter settled — this one stayed in Chicago's control.

Two bursts in the first. The game turned in the opening quarter. Chicago opened with a 9-0 run, Milwaukee answered with 10 straight to briefly lead 12-10, and the Bulls closed the period on another 10-0 burst to go up 19-12 by the 1:37 mark. Milwaukee called two timeouts in that stretch trying to slow it down.

Smith's efficient nine minutes. Jalen Smith needed only nine minutes for 8 points, going 2-for-3 from the field, 2-for-2 from three and 2-for-4 at the line. He finished plus-8, tied for the best plus-minus on the roster.

Powell does his job. Norman Powell scored 6 points in 9 minutes on 1-for-3 shooting, hit a three, added a steal and finished plus-8. Not a star line, but efficient enough in a short run to match Smith's mark.

Wilson's quiet, rough stretch. Caleb Wilson shot 1-for-4 with two turnovers in 9 minutes, managing just 2 points. He still finished plus-8, a reminder that plus-minus in a short preseason stretch can flatter a bad shooting night when the group around a player is working.

Closing five stays together. Chicago finished with the same five players who started the final five minutes: Wilson, Smith, Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis and Powell. Buzelis was the low man of that group at plus-6 in 10 minutes, still comfortably positive, with a steal and a block.

Record still reads 0-0. This result won't touch the standings — it's preseason, and Chicago's record stays 0-0 either way. The Bulls get two days of rest before hosting Minnesota on October 16, their last tune-up before the regular-season opener at Toronto on October 21.