Giannis Antetokounmpo just missed a triple-double with 41 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and the Milwaukee Bucks began defence of their NBA Cup title with a 126-110 win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday.

Milwaukee improved to 9-0 in group play action since the NBA Cup debuted in the 2023-24 season.

The Bucks lost to the Indiana Pacers in the semi-finals in 2023 before defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in last year’s championship game.

Antetokounmpo was the MVP of last season’s NBA Cup and became the only player to be selected to the All-NBA Cup team in each edition.

Myles Turner had 23 points, eight rebounds and four steals Friday for Milwaukee (6-3), while Ryan Rollins pitched in with 20 points, six boards, four assists and three steals.

The Bulls (6-2) got 20 points and eight rebounds from Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey had 16 points, 14 assists and seven boards.

Chicago beat the New York Knicks on October 31 in their NBA Cup opener.

We are 9-0 all-time in group play. pic.twitter.com/QxSl7sExBU

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 8, 2025

2024 NBA Cup runner-up Thunder roll in opener

The Oklahoma City Thunder began their quest to return to the NBA Cup title game with a 132-101 blowout of the Sacramento Kings.

Prior to winning the NBA championship last season, the Thunder came up short against the Milwaukee Bucks in the title game of the NBA Cup.

On Friday, Isaiah Hartenstein established a career high with 33 points and added 19 rebounds, three assists and three blocks as the Thunder got back on track following their first loss of the season Wednesday to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points, and Ajay Mitchell had 18 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and three steals for Oklahoma City (9-1).

Sacramento (3-6) also opened NBA Cup play and suffered their most lopsided loss of the season.

Former Thunder star Russell Westbrook led the Kings with 24 points to go along with nine assists and six rebounds.

1–0 in Group Play pic.twitter.com/NscPWRyWKs

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) November 8, 2025

Raptors win again in NBA Cup

The Toronto Raptors moved to 2-0 in group play by rallying for a 109-97 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

Toronto (5-4) outscored Atlanta by 21 points in the second half to register their fourth consecutive win overall – with each coming by double digits.

The Raptors had seven players reach double-figure scoring, with Brandon Ingram pouring in 20 points, RJ Barrett contributing 19 and Immanuel Quickley adding 18.

Scottie Barnes (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Jakob Poeltl (12 points, 10 boards) posted double-doubles for Toronto.

Jalen Johnson paced Atlanta (4-5) with 21 points and Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 20 as the Hawks fell to 1-1 in group play.

Checking in on the NBA Cup standings pic.twitter.com/KpIrYt1y7w

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) November 8, 2025

Pistons extend winning streak in NBA Cup opener 

The surging Detroit Pistons began group action by defeating the lowly Brooklyn Nets 125-107 behind dominant performances from Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren.

Cunningham scored 34 points and dished out 10 assists, while Duren had 30 points, 11 rebounds and three steals to help Detroit (7-2) push their winning streak to five games.

Michael Porter Jr. scored 28 points for the Nets, who dropped to 1-8 to match the Washington Wizards for the worst record in the NBA thus far.

Prior to the loss, Brooklyn announced that second-leading scorer Cam Thomas (21.4 points per game) would be sidelined for three to four weeks with a left hamstring strain.

There's a two-headed monster in Detroit pic.twitter.com/yY0I32Whhc

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) November 8, 2025