By Joseph Phillips
Sports writer, The Chicago Crusader Newspaper
In their first preseason game of the 2019-20 NBA Season, the Chicago Bulls fell to the Milwaukee Bucks 122-112 at the United Center on Monday night.
“It was my first game, obviously I got high expectations for myself,” said Coby White, After debuting in his first ever preseason game of his NBA career. “I could have played better on both ends of the floor. Offensively (and defensively).”
In the Bulls first loss of the preseason, White finished third in team scoring with 12 points, two rebounds, and one assist on 3 of 10 shooting from the field. And now that he has his first preseason game under his belt, White said there is plenty of room for improvement.
“I want to continue to grow,” said White. “It’s a process and tomorrow, we will get back at it at practice.”
In addition to white’s solid play offensively, rookie Daniel Gafford also added a spark off the bench in his Bulls debut. Scoring 12 points in 17 minutes of play, five rebounds, three block shots and a two handed alley oop monster dunk from Denzel Valentine, that brought the United Center crowd to its feet late in the third quarter.
Bulls stars Zach Lavine and Lauri Markkanen combined for 30 points in their preseason debut. As Lavine, who earlier in the game had a two handed baseline dunk, finished with a game high 16 points, and Markkanen, finished with 14 points on 4 of 8 shooting from the three point arc.
For the Bucks, twin brothers Robin and Brook Lopez both led their team’s offensively. As Robin finished tied with teammate Frank Mason III with a game high 14 points, and brother Brook, finished 3 of 6 shooting from behind the three-point arc, and second in scoring with 13 points. The Bucks made a total of 17 three-pointers from behind the arc.
Bucks star and 2019 NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was inactive for tonight’s game.
