Giannis scores 28 points, Pistons lead Bucks 60-47 at halftime

On By Littum

The Milwaukee Bucks try to win back-to-back games for the first time when they take on the Detroit Pistons tonight at Fiserv Forum.

The Pistons led 60-47 at halftime because the Bucks couldn’t make a shot. Giannis Antetokounmpo went 10-for-17 from the field for 28 points, while the other seven Bucks who played were a combined 6-for-27 (22%) for 19 points.

Antetokounmpo scored 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting while every other Bucks player combined to go 0-for-12 in the first quarter as the Pistons led the Bucks 27-24 after one.

The Bucks (3-8) beat Toronto on Tuesday night without Damian Lillard as five players reached double figures in scoring. The Pistons (5-7) are an improved team under new coach JB Bickerstaff and beat Miami on Tuesday night in Detroit.

Is Giannis playing?

Yes, per Bucks head coach Doc Rivers. He has dealt with pain in his right patella all season and has yet to miss a game with the problem.

Damian Lillard injury update

Milwaukee all-star point guard Damian Lillard reported concussion-like symptoms and entered the NBA’s concussion protocol Monday night after being hit in the head during the Nov. 10 game against Boston.

Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said Lillard woke up Wednesday with a headache after passing “most” of his return-to-play test Tuesday night.

Lillard was accidentally hit in the face by a referee who waved off a late shot as time expired in the third quarter of the Bucks’ loss to the Celtics on Sunday. He played nearly seven minutes in the fourth and went 0 for 2 from the floor. He reported a headache on Monday.

Lillard was publicly entered into the NBA concussion protocol via the Bucks at 20.16 on November 11 and was immediately ruled out for Tuesday’s game. There was some belief that he might be available vs. Pistons, but he was ruled out Wednesday afternoon.

What is the NBA concussion protocol?

Under the NBA’s concussion policy, if a player is diagnosed with a concussion, he must be monitored for 24 hours and can begin physical activity after that period. If the player is indeed diagnosed with a concussion, “he may not return to full participation without limitations: (i) for at least 48 hours after the time of injury; and (ii) until after he completes the required return to participation process.”

Read the 2024-25 NBA concussion protocol here.

What channel is Bucks on?

The game tips off at 7 p.m. on FanDuel Sports Network with Lisa Byington, Marques Johnson and Melanie Ricks on the call.

Buck’s injury report

  • Khris Middleton, out (surgery on both ankles)Rivers: “No (setback). He’s just moving on and moving on. I mean, I don’t know what the return date was or if there was a set, so what we’re doing is trying to get him healthy so when he’s ready to play he’s ready to play As I’ve jokingly said a million times, ‘Doc is a nickname.’ I don’t really know, I’m just checking in with the medical team and they’re telling me the same thing, like he’s getting there, he’s getting closer, and basically I’m relaying the same thing to you that I’ve been telling you a lot of times that I don’t think it’s a good place for a coach to be is in the training room comes in gives me the report and I say ‘thank you’ and that’s it I check Khris and guys there is injured, about how they’re doing, more human stuff, because Khris wants to play and he’s frustrated that he’s not, Ryan has a great game last night, now he might be out, so he’s frustrated that’s just how it works for a coach. It’s more the mental stuff, the mental health than anything else.”
  • Damian Lillard, out (concussion protocol)
  • Bobby Portis Jr., out (right elbow contusion)Analysis: Portis tested his right elbow during warmups and it was determined that he would miss the game with right elbow bruising. Two-way player Liam Robbins and rookie Tyler Smith are the big backups behind Brook Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
  • Ryan Rollins, out (left shoulder instability)
  • Giannis Antetokounmpo, probable (right patella tendinopathy)

Bucks starters

  • Guards: Delon Wright, AJ Green
  • Extenders: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bull Prince
  • Center: Brook Lopez

Bucks vs. Pistons odds, over/under

Milwaukee is just a 5.5-point favorite over Detroit, and the over/under is 216.5 points per game. BetMGM.

What is Buck’s schedule?

  • Tonight against Detroit, at 19.00
  • Saturday at Charlotte’s, at
  • Nov. 18 vs. Houston, 7 p.m. 19.00
  • Nov. 20 vs. Chicago, 7 p.m. 18.30
  • 22 November vs. Indiana, at 19.00**Emirates Cup games