A late dunk by Giannis helps the Bucks avoid another heartbreaking loss

The Milwaukee Bucks rallied from a year-end slump to earn a win before a four-game road trip.

Late Dunk by Giannis helps fund another heartbreaking loss

The Milwaukee Bucks needed it.

After a tough New Year's Eve slump, the Bucks began 2026 with an impressive 122-121 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on January 2 in the Fiserv Conference.

The Bucks (15-20) enter a four-game, 10-day road trip on a positive note.

BOXING ESEBI: Bucks 122, Hornets 121

Giannis Antetokounmpo gave the Bucks the lead on a pass from Kevin Porter Jr. with 4.7 seconds left.Antetokounmpo had 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in 30 minutes.

A few seconds earlier, Miles Bridge put the Hornets (11:23) in the lead 121-120 after a three-point play.On the final possession, Charlotte got to Brandon Miller, who missed a tight runner.

Milwaukee rallied from a 14-point deficit after the first quarter and a nine-point halftime lead.

"But what I liked about the game was that we never controlled the game," Bucks coach Doc Rivers said.“During the game, they made shots.

"It was one of those games where a lot of teams would have let go. And I thought we just hung in there, hung in there and then won the game. We're proud of our guys tonight."

Kevin Porter Jr. isn't deterred by tough shots

The winning alley-oop unfolds exactly as Antetokounmpo predicted.

“I just read this game,” according toAnottominnompo“I hope they will be replaced in the same month.And we'll be at the bottom.And it depends on the games.”

"And I hit the shot when I looked to my left and there was a guy in the corner and I thought why don't I just DHO (flake hand) and just let the play go... I knew I was going to have the ball in my elbow and I knew it was going to be one side, just me and Scoot."

"I know Scoot likes to go left. That's what I told him before the play, I told him, 'Hey, you can go down and go back and get the ball.' And just throw it to the rim, I'll be wide open. He just did what I told him and I was wide open."

It made sense to have the ball in Porter's hands for that moment.He had a strong shooting night, going 0-for-7 and 4-for-14 in the first half. But he wasn't shy and threw a perfect penny.

"I know he believes in me," Porter said.

"You know, I think today's match went individually for me. The fact that you always come to me definitely gives me confidence. It shows how much we trust each other."

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ryan Rollins come up short ... but only one gets the ball.

The game ball was Ryan Rollins' foot locker.He scored his 1,000th career point and hit a career-high six 3-pointers.

Rollins also made clutch plays, including a triple to give the Bucks a 117-116 lead with 45.7 seconds left. He made a stunning pass to Kyle Kuzma for a 3-pointer for a 120-118 advantage with 10.5 seconds left.

But the game ball went first to Antetokounmpo, who played his 158th game with more than 30 points, more than 10 rebounds and more than five assists.That broke a tie with Oscar Robertson to give Antetokounmpo the NBA record.

"He was amazing," Antetokounmpo said of Rollins."Coach Doc gave me the ball, but I thought it would be a good sign for Ryan to keep the ball."

"I had a chance to keep my jersey, too. It meant a lot to him, 1,000 points. Played really well ... made tight shots, got to the paint, put a lot of pressure on the rim and made the right plays defensively. Was active.

"As a manager, I think when guys lock in and do the right things and play hard every day and are always there for the team, you reward them as much as you can."

Reaching the 1,000-point plateau is a big moment for Rollins, as he's worked his way through trades and two-way deals to earn a roster spot.

"It's a blessing, for sure," Rollins said."But after 1,000 it's 2,000... so I have to continue."

The Bucks go on a road trip out west

The importance of boxing in winning this game cannot be overstated

After falling to the Wizards, it felt like the season was slipping away, but Antetokounmpo's latest stretch was another perspective.

"We've won three of the last four," he said."We are in a good place.

"Do I wish we could have won the East game and gone 4-for-4? Yes. But we're on the West Coast road trip, four games. Four tough games. We'll try our best to compete every game. Hopefully we can come out of it.

"But we're playing. We're not there yet. But we're going in the right direction."

Kohn Neupel has another big game in his hometown

In his first NBA game in Milwaukee, local product Kon Knueppel scored 32 points for the Hornets.

There were plenty of No. 7 Hornets in the crowd again, and the former Wisconsin Lutheran High School standout, a strong candidate for Rookie of the Year, finished with 26 points, four rebounds and three assists.

13 games this season with 20 or more points for Ryan Rollins

608 of Rollins' 1,024 career points came this season

9 games this season with 25 or more points for Knueppel, the No.4 picks in the NBA draft

Bucks 8-2 record with 120 points this season

15 Bobby Portis scored 15 of his 20 points in the second half

Does Giannis Anttokounmpo play?

Antetokounmpo was added late to the probable injury report, nursing a right calf injury.But before the game, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said Antetokounmpo would play.

What about Kon Knueppel?

yes The Milwaukee-area product had a big game in his hometown debut on Nov. 14, but missed the Dec. 29 game in Charlotte with a right ankle injury.Knueppel returned against the Golden State Warriors on December 31.

Milwaukee Bucks injury report

- Prince Taurus, van (door)

- Gary Harris, tunebû (neck tension)

- Giannis Antetokounmpo, possible (treatment of right calf injury)

What channel is Bucks vs Hornets on tonight?

- TV: FanDuel Sport Wisconsin.

- Stream: You can stream the game on the FanDuel Sports Wisconsin app through your TV or streaming provider.Fubo also has a free trial for new subscribers.

- Announcers: Lisa Byington (play-by-play), Marques Johnson (analysis) and Melanie Ricks (sideline coverage) call the game for FanDuel Sports Wisconsin.

Bucks batok Hornets Odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM from January 2nd

- Spread: 5,5 dolara

- Over/under: 231,5

- Links: Buicks -225, Hornets +185

Bucks schedule 2025-26

Here are the Bucks' next five games (in the Central each time):

- Round 2: Charlotte, 7 p.m.

- January 4: at Sacramento, 8 p.m

- 7 sides: Golden State, 21:00.

- January 9: at Los Angeles Lakers, 9:30 p.m

- Jan. 11: Denver, 7 p.m.