Grades from the Milwaukee Bucks’ Game 1 win over Chicago Bulls

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls Game 1 Grades: Bucks Starters

Jrue Holiday: C+

Jrue Holiday didn’t have his best game offensively, managing 15 points on 6-of-16 shooting. He did contribute six rebounds and six assists to go with four turnovers. However, his two steals and hounding on ball defense allowed him to finish +11 on the night.

Jrue Holiday scored nine of his 15 points in the fourth quarter when Giannis Antetokounmpo was dealing with foul trouble, so he saved his most meaningful contributions for the end of the game when the Chicago Bulls were threatening to steal a road win.

Wesley Matthews: B+

Wesley Matthews earned himself a B+ in large part due to his efforts on the defensive end of the floor. That said, Wesley Matthews did score an efficient six points on two made threes on three attempts. Matthews also added five rebounds.

What may have been Wesley Matthews’ biggest contribution was his defense at the end of the game. With 15.3 seconds remaining in the game and the Milwaukee Bucks holding on to a five point lead, DeMar DeRozan caught an inbounds pass and worked for a short midrange jump shot that Wesley Matthews defended flawlessly without fouling. That play was the final nail in the coffin for the Bulls.

Khris Middleton: C-

Khris Middleton didn’t have as successful playoff opener as he did in 2021 when he hit a game winning shot for the Bucks against the Miami Heat. Middleton struggled from the field, shooting just 4 of 13 from the field, including 1-7 on threes. Khris Middleton also didn’t get to the free throw line until the closing seconds of the game, he made both.

Aside from his shooting woes, Khris Middleton also coughed up seven turnovers, some of which could be attributed to teammates losing the ball but Middleton did contribute five rebounds and six assists, keeping him out of a D grade.

Giannis Antetokounmpo: A

Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed a very healthy stat-line for the Milwaukee Bucks in game one, 27 points (10-19 on field goals) and 16 rebounds. Aside from his five turnovers and five fouls it looked as though Giannis was in control of the game despite constant double teams and occasional triple teams when in the paint.

Giannis picked up his fifth foul with 8:14 left in the game and did not score in the final quarter of the game, making his 27 points a bit more impressive when considering he accumulated them in just three quarters. Hopefully fewer whistles in game two leads to Giannis being more aggressive for all four quarters Wednesday night.

Brook Lopez: A-

Brook Lopez was constantly talked about as the missing piece for the Milwaukee Bucks during the regular season by his teammates, and he showed why on Sunday. Brook Lopez was the Bucks second leading scorer with 18 points on 7-14 shooting. Brook did make just one of five three-point attempts but also made three of four free throws and contributed five rebounds and two blocks.

Late in the fourth quarter when Giannis Antetokounmpo was dealing with foul trouble and offense was hard to come by, Brook Lopez put the team on his back. Brook scored seven points in just over three minutes from the 4:34 mark to the 1:24 mark.