The Chicago Bulls were among a handful of teams loosely tied to Giannis Antetokounmpo in recent weeks. With the Milwaukee Bucks struggling to hold onto a Play-in Tournament spot, rumors have swirled about the potential availability of the two-time MVP.

The Milwaukee Bucks once again lost to one of the worst teams in the NBA, falling 127-82 to a tanking Brooklyn Nets team.

The Bucks beat the Boston Celtics 116-101 Thursday, covering as 9.5-point home underdogs with the Under (222.5) cashing. F Kyle Kuzma had a game-high 31 points on 13-for-17 shooting. Milwaukee has struggled over the past month, going 3-10 straight up and 5-8 against the spread (ATS) since November 15. It is 12-14 ATS on the season.

With multiple players scoring in double figures, the Nets used a collective effort to overwhelm the Bucks to the delight of Steve Hetzel.

In the end, the trio of Portis, Kuzma and Porter carried the Bucks to a much-needed win. With rumors about an injured Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future continuing to swirl, his teammates earned a victory as the superstar forward enjoyed his team’s fight and competitiveness from the bench.