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Giannis, Bucks cruise in new arena's opener


Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks put on a smashing opening-night performance at their new arena.

Antetokounmpo had 19 points, 13 rebounds and five assists, and the Bucks routed the Chicago Bulls 116-82 on Wednesday night in the first game at the Fiserv Forum.

The Bucks had the look of contenders under new coach Mike Budenholzer, scoring 63 points in the first half of their preseason opener and leading by as much as 34 points.

Their new arena opened in August and the Bucks looked right at home there against the Bulls, overwhelming them on the backboards with a 64-43 rebound advantage.

Bobby Portis led Chicago with 17 points and Kris Dunn added 10.

BUCKS: Eric Bledsoe added 16 points, Khris Middleton scored 15 and Pat Connaughton had 12 points on four 3-pointers. ... First-rounder Donte DiVincenzo scored just two points on 1-of-9 shooting but grabbed seven boards in 19 minutes ... Budenholzer spent the last five seasons as Atlanta coach.

BULLS: Jabari Parker was 1 of 12 from the field and scored two points in his return to Milwaukee, where the Bucks' former No. 2 pick played his first four seasons. ... No. 7 pick Wendell Carter Jr. had nine points on 4-of-8 shooting.

 

Portis scored 17 points (7-15 FG, 1-7 3Pt, 2-3 FT) while adding three rebounds in 27 minutes off the bench during Wednesday's preseason loss to the Bucks.

He led the Bulls in both court time and scoring on the night, with Kris Dunn being the only other Chicago player to reach double digits. Portis' role in the frontcourt was up in the air this season after the team added Jabari Parker in free agency and drafted Wendell Carter with the seventh overall pick, but Lauri Markkanen's elbow injury should keep the 23-year-old in the mix at least until mid-late November.

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