Chicago Bulls playoff schedule — with times and TV — for 1st-round series vs. Milwaukee Bucks
The first-round playoff schedule is set for the sixth-seeded Chicago Bulls versus the third-seeded Milwaukee Bucks.
The Bucks lead the series 3-1 with Game 5 set for Wednesday in Milwaukee.
Here are the results and schedule for the series, with times and TV (all times Central):
Game 1: Bucks 93, Bulls 86
In the fourth quarter of any game, the Chicago Bulls are always comfortable with a single-digit deficit and the ball in DeMar DeRozan’s hands. That has been a tried-and-true formula throughout DeRozan’s first season in Chicago.
But DeRozan couldn’t deliver late-game heroics in Game 1 against the Bucks. He didn’t make a fourth-quarter basket until 2:11 remained in the game, going 1-for-7 in the quarter and taking only two free throws in the second half.
- Column: Bulls prove they can hang with the Bucks — but a chance to steal home court slips away
- Bulls need more from DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević — who shot below 30% in Game 1 — to pull off an upset
- 4 takeaways from the Bulls’ Game 1 loss — and what they can do to win Game 2
- The Bulls stepped up defensively in Game 1 against the Milwaukee Bucks. Here’s what worked.
Game 2: Bulls 114, Bucks 110
DeMar DeRozan is a man of his word. He proved that to Bulls fans, devouring the Bucks defense in the second half to cement a 114-110 win that evened the first-round playoff series at a game apiece.
The Bulls star didn’t disguise his frustration after Game 1, promising he wouldn’t repeat his 6-of-25 shooting performance. DeRozan spent Tuesday night on the Fiserv Forum court, putting up shots to regain the rhythm lacking in the opening loss.
- Column: Bulls’ gritty effort in Game 2 win gives the Bucks something to worry about
- The Bulls returned to the best of themselves in their Game 2 win. Will it be enough to swing the series?
- Bucks’ Khris Middleton to miss the rest of their series vs. the Bulls with a sprained MCL
- Nikola Vučević taking a bigger scoring role gives the Bulls a boost in playoff series with Bucks
Game 3: Bucks 111, Bulls 81
The Bulls returned to the United Center for their first playoff game in five years with home-court advantage and the momentum of a road win at their back.
But they limped out of Game 3 with a 111-81 beatdown as the Bucks bounced back like a reigning NBA champion to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round series.
- Column: Bulls fans were ready to rock the United Center — but Grayson Allen plays the villain to perfection
- Bulls emphasize pace after a lopsided Game 3 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks: ‘We moved way, way too slow’
Game 4: Bucks 119, Bulls 95
The Bulls delivered hope in Game 4 of their series with the Bucks. That was an improvement, at least, for fans at the United Center after the beatdown of Game 3.
The offense matched blows with the Bucks throughout the first half, avoiding an early hole. Patrick Williams finally delivered on his young promise, scoring 20 points in his best performance of the playoffs. The Bulls scored more transition points in the first half (6) than they had in any game in the series so far.
But all that didn’t matter when Giannis Antetokounmpo woke up. The Bucks star carved open the Bulls defense with surgical accuracy, scoring a series-high 32 points. With Antetokounmpo slicing the Bulls open on both ends of the court, the Bucks waltzed to a 119-95 win.
- Column: Grayson Allen feeds off the boos from Bulls fans — and his Bucks teammates — in a sizzling Game 4 performance
Game 5 on Wednesday: Bulls at Bucks, TBD
Game 6 on Friday: Bucks at Bulls, TBD, if necessary
Game 7 on May 1: Bulls at Bucks, TBD, if necessary
The Bulls lost all four meetings with the Bucks this season, including 28- and 21-point blowouts in the last two games. The reigning NBA champions are led by two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who hasn’t lost a game to the Bulls since Dec. 27, 2017.
- Jan. 22: Bucks 94, Bulls 90
- March 4: Bucks 118, Bulls 112
- March 22: Bucks 126, Bulls 98
- April 5: Bucks 127, Bulls 106
The Bulls were 1-14 this season against the top four Eastern Conference seeds — the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers. This will be the Bulls’ first postseason appearance in five years.
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