CHI 120, MIL 97: Giddey Puts Up Monster 56.8 Yahoo FP
Sarah Kowalski
Orthopedic Nurse ยท Milwaukee Bucks fan
Bulls Torch the Bucks Behind Giddey's All-Around Night
Look, I'm not happy about this one. Home loss to Chicago stings, especially when you watch it happen in real time. But let's be real about what went down here because the fantasy angles are legit important for your lineups going forward.
Chicago came to play. Milwaukee didn't. Final score 120-97 doesn't even tell the full story of how lopsided this got in stretches. And while I'm still salty as a Bucks fan, the fantasy winners from this game are worth your attention.
Top Performers
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Giddey | 63.0 | 56.8 | 20/14/10 | 17.8/8.2/8.4 | +2.2 |
| Guerschon Yabusele | 39.0 | 36.9 | 12/7/5 | 4.2/2.9/0.8 | +7.8 |
| Matas Buzelis | 38.0 | 35.9 | 20/7/3 | 15.4/5.5/2.1 | +4.6 |
| Leonard Miller | 44.0 | 35.0 | 15/5/4 | 3.2/1.5/0.5 | +11.8 |
| Collin Sexton | 40.0 | 33.6 | 22/3/2 | 14.0/2.0/3.4 | +8.0 |
| Ryan Rollins | 30.0 | 30.9 | 11/7/7 | 17.0/4.6/5.4 | -6.0 |
| Nick Richards | 26.0 | 27.4 | 11/7/0 | 4.6/4.1/0.3 | +6.4 |
| Bobby Portis | 30.0 | 27.0 | 18/5/0 | 13.3/6.4/1.5 | +4.7 |
| Tre Jones | 26.0 | 25.6 | 13/3/6 | 12.1/2.8/5.6 | +0.9 |
| Kevin Porter Jr. | 18.0 | 25.2 | 10/6/4 | 17.8/5.2/7.5 | -7.8 |
Josh Giddey Put On a Masterclass
Josh Giddey just reminded everyone why he was a lottery pick. 20/14/10 on solid efficiency (7-14 FG, 5 three-pointers made) with 32 minutes of work. That triple-double puts him 56.8 Yahoo points, and yeah, it's only +2.2 vs his season average, but here's what matters: he did it controlling the game against a defense that was actually trying to stop him.
The assist total is the headline. Ten dimes means Giddey was running the offense and getting teammates involved. In a 23-point win, he had the fingerprints on basically everything that worked. If you've got him on your roster, this is the game you hold onto him for. He's got the talent to string together nights like this, especially in games where Chicago is playing uptempo.
The Leonard Miller Revelation
Real talk: Leonard Miller going for 15/5/4 when his season average is 3.2/1.5/0.5 is the kind of stat line that gets waiver warriors scrambling. +11.8 PPG over average is massive. 6-8 shooting means he was efficient. But here's the nurse in me giving you the real advice: don't overreact.
Miller got 27 minutes tonight in a 23-point blowout. That's garbage time minutes mixed with some legitimate run because the game got out of hand. When this game was still competitive, he wasn't out there. The upside is real, but the consistent role isn't there yet. Add him in deeper leagues if you're desperate for depth, but don't burn a priority waiver claim. This smells like a one-off.
Guerschon Yabusele Continues His Sneaky Run
Guerschon Yabusele stepping up with 12/7/5 in 23 minutes caught my attention. Going +7.8 on scoring against a season average of 4.2 is legit. He was active on the glass, grabbed three steals, and shot 4-6 from the line. In a game where Chicago had space to operate, Yabusele carved out a real role.
The issue: 23 minutes. That's still rotation depth, not a starter. But if he keeps trending this direction with minutes increasing, he's a name to watch on waivers. Not a plug-and-play add yet, but monitor the next game or two.
The Bucks Side (Yeah, This Sucked)
Bobby Portis was probably the only Buck who showed up offensively with 18/5 on good shooting (7-14, 3 three-pointers). He got his points but couldn't slow down the bleeding.
Ryan Rollins went 11/7/7 but shot it 5-11 and played 34 heavy minutes in a blowout. That's the kind of stat line that looks okay until you realize he was -6.0 PPG and didn't have his best night despite high volume. In a loss like this where Milwaukee couldn't find rhythm, volume doesn't save you.
Kevin Porter Jr. was brutal. 4-16 shooting, 10 points, -7.8 from his season average. He tried to impact the game with 4 assists but couldn't get a bucket when it mattered. This is the KPJ we all worry about sometimes. He'll bounce back, but nights like this remind you why the consistency questions exist.
One Thing Worth Watching
I gotta be honest about Giannis not playing. That's unusual for a home game against a division rival, even in the second half of a blowout loss. Make sure you check the injury report before your next lineups lock. I work around injuries all week, and unexpected rest in lopsided games usually means something to monitor. Could be load management, could be something else. Either way, keep your eye on the Bucks' next injury report.
The Bottom Line
Chicago proved they can execute when they get rolling, and the fantasy value is spread across their roster. Giddey's the obvious winner here. Yabusele and Miller got looks that might not repeat. For Milwaukee, this is a forget-it-quick game where basically nobody except Portis delivered.
Don't panic on your Bucks guys. Don't overcommit to the Bulls depth. But if you're in a league where Yabusele is available, grab him as a flier. And keep Giddey locked in if you have him. He's capable of nights like this regularly.