Matas Buzelis vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo is not a marquee matchup — not with the Bulls second-year forward still in a formative stage of developing his intriguing skills and certainly not in a preseason game.
But someday? Perhaps. With the Bulls spinning their wheels in recent seasons, they’re likely going to need one of their first-round picks to go from mid-first-round prospect to All-NBA star — like the Bucks’ Antetokounmpo, the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or the Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton — to break the cycle. Buzelis is their top candidate.
Fans got a chance to dream, at least, when Buzelis faced Antetokounmpo on Sunday night in the Bulls’ 127-121 loss to the Bucks at the United Center. Buzelis scored 19 points and shot 6-for-11 from the field, including 2-for-6 from three-point range. Antetokounmpo — playing his first game of the preseason after recovering from COVID-19 — scored 13 points, shot 6-for-10 from the field and grabbed 10 rebounds.
“Matas has done a good job,” coach Billy Donovan said. “We’re trying to put him in situations where he’s gonna have to grow defensively. Last two games against Cleveland, he guarded [Evan] Mobley. Tonight, he started off against Giannis. This is the stuff he’s going to have to do that he did not do a lot last year. This is part of his growth and maturation.
“He’s gotten physically stronger. But he’s doing other things, trying to get involved in plays on the glass, trying to take the ball to the basket. He’s doing a lot of really, really good things.’’
Buzelis provided the hope. Patrick Williams provided encouragement with 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Ayo Dosunmu provided the spark with 22 points. And Dalen Terry inadvertently provided the entertainment with an ejection in a game that ultimately was settled by reserves and fringe players.
Dosunmu looked as ready for the regular season as anybody on the court, aggressively attacking the basket to help the Bulls rally from a first-half deficit.
“He was really, really good tonight,” Donovan said. “He was downhill. He was fast. He was aggressive. He did a nice job.”
Terry’s ejection came after he was stopped on a drive and grabbed by Taurean Prince, who refused to let go. That led to Zach Collins trying to get Prince away from Terry, which led to more confrontations. Cooler heads prevailed before things got out of hand. Collins and the Bucks’ Prince and Bobby Portis Jr. received technical fouls.
“I went up to the basket, got grabbed; I had to defend myself,” Terry said. “I felt there was some touching I didn’t like. Y’all saw what happened. I can’t go home if I don’t defend myself. I’m a man before anything.”
NOTES: Kevin Huerter (groin) missed his second consecutive game.
“Kevin is progressing, but we still want to be a little cautious,” Donovan said.
Julian Phillips (sprained knee) also missed his second consecutive game, but Donovan was hopeful he’ll return soon.
“There’s nothing wrong there,’’ he said. ‘‘We’re hopeful he’ll be back before the end of the preseason.’’
• Bucks coach Doc Rivers, who grew up in Maywood, was visibly dismayed by the tensions and confrontations between ICE agents and protesters at the Broadview ICE facility next door to his hometown.
“Yeah, it bothers me,” Rivers said before the game. “It’s awful, what you watch — people getting zip-tied. That’s not this country. That’s not what we’re about.
“My dad was a cop, for Christ’s sake. My dad would not be proud of this. I know that. I couldn’t imagine my dad going to work right now and having to protect ICE agents in doing what they’re doing. I think he’d call in sick.”
• The Bulls held a moment of silence for Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the beloved nun and renowned chaplain for Loyola’s men’s basketball team, who died Thursday at 106.