Bucks head coach Doc Rivers praised Giannis Antetokounmpo’s return in Milwaukee’s 112-103 victory over Chicago. “Minute-wise I thought it worked out really well…we wanted to save minutes in the first half so we can have him three rotations in the second half,” Rivers said, noting the two-time MVP played 25 minutes and scored 29 points.
Rivers emphasized Giannis’ influence beyond scoring. “It’s also his gravity…when the team is making a run and you have him on the floor, you feel like you’re going to get a bucket or a good shot…you don’t go in a long drought when Giannis is on the floor,” he said, highlighting his effect on teammates’ confidence.
The coach discussed Milwaukee’s strategic spacing and ball movement. “Using the guards…when you’re off the ball you’re picking a roller…when you’re on the ball we have guys slipping and you go downhill…spacing was fantastic,” Rivers explained, praising the team’s execution on pick-and-rolls and open shots.
Ryan Rollins’ contributions earned Rivers’ attention. “Ryan hits those two big shots…he’s had that good two-man connection with Giannis…for him to snap back right into it,” Rivers said, highlighting the guard’s confidence and timing in key moments.
Rivers also noted the benefits of having multiple players capable of attacking the rim. “Three guys that can attack…Myles starting to get more open shots because of it…we didn’t want Giannis to do a heavy load with the ball tonight,” he said, referencing the combined impact of Kevin Porter Jr., AJ Green, and Myles Turner.
The coach addressed AJ Green’s late-game performance. “We called the timeout…came out and got a three-pointer for AJ…that shot will hopefully lead to all the next shots that are coming,” Rivers said, underlining the importance of designing plays for shooters even after earlier misses.
Rivers also discussed Milwaukee’s interior presence. “Another rim protector…him and Myles together…we got five offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter…a lot of little things that come with that,” he said, pointing to the Bucks’ control of the glass in key stretches.
Despite a tense final sequence, Rivers downplayed any incident with Chicago. “The closing moments…he just came back for his first game, and he’s happy to be back…not the Malice at the Palace for sure,” he said, emphasizing the competitive but controlled nature of the contest.
Milwaukee shot 47% from the field and 36% from three, while outrebounding Chicago 52-42. The Bucks improve to 13-19 overall and 9-8 with Giannis active, seeking momentum ahead of Monday’s game at Charlotte.
