CHICAGO _ Ryan Arcidiacono started for the ill Kris Dunn on Monday night against the Bucks, owners of the NBA's best record.
The Bucks played without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who sat with right knee soreness, George Hill, out with a strained left groin, and Sterling Brown, who has a sore right wrist.
After trailing by 14 early, the Bucks rallied to win 117-106 as Malcolm Brogdon and Khris Middleton both scored 22 points to lead six Bucks in double figures.
Nikola Mirotic, in his first game at the United Center as a visitor, scored eight of his 13 points in the fourth quarter as the Bucks pulled away.
For the Bulls, Lauri Markkanen posted his seventh game of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds over his last eight, finishing with 26 points and 12 rebounds. Robin Lopez scored a season-high 26 points. And Zach LaVine flirted with his first triple-double, finishing with 11 points _ just one after the first quarter _ nine assists and eight rebounds.
It marked Arcidiacono's 26th start this season. And while one gets the impression that it might take a serious wound to sideline him, starting one game after getting the call over Dunn offered a chance to pause for perspective.
"I was just trying to make the team back in October," Arcidiacono said.
Remember then? The scrappy guard arrived at training camp on a non-guaranteed contract and, at one point, appeared he could be the odd man out in a numbers game.
Instead, he entered the game against the Bucks ranked third in the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio, has drawn a team-high 10 charges and continues to treat floorburns like they're part of the job.
"Coach (Jim Boylen) has confidence in me and that just gives me more confidence to play my game, do what I do," Arcidiacono said. "I'm not worried about the offensive end. Take what the defense gives me but make plays on the defensive end and bring energy off the bench."Arcidiacono should be happy he's not worried about the offensive end. Because after a torrid start under former coach Fred Hoiberg in which he shot 44 percent from 3-point range over the first two months, he shot 26.5 percent in December, 30.3 percent in January and just 23.1 percent this month.
"I don't judge my game on making shots. I try to bring energy and effort," Arcidiacono said. "I haven't changed anything about my shooting routine. It's a matter of finding the right looks and shooting them with confidence. I guess everyone can look at the numbers. But if I'm affecting the game in other ways and I make shots, great. If I'm affecting the game and not making shots but doing little things to help us win, that's all I judge myself on. When I make shots, it's just gravy."
Arcidiacono knocked down two 3-pointers on Saturday against the Celtics, increasing his impact. And he sank his first attempt from that range on Monday against the Bucks.
"There's been a progression with Arch," Boylen said. "When he first got here, he wouldn't even look at the rim. So what we talked about was for him to be effective and become a two-way player, he needed to start focusing on making plays in the paint when he's at the rim or around the rim and improve his three-point shooting. He has done that.
"I think maybe there's still a perception in the league that he's just kind of a playmaker and a driver. But we want him to try to look at the rim and score the ball when he can. It makes us better. We need him to shoot it."
With Otto Porter Jr. also sidelined, the Bulls used their 17th different lineup of the season and started Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot at small forward.
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer praised the Bulls' recent play.
"They're starting to develop an identity under Jim," he said.
That's why Boylen said the injuries shouldn't change the Bulls' approach.
"This is why you have a team. This is what the league is about. Guys are waiting for their opportunity. They have to grab it," he said. "The veteran guys have to raise them up. These situations are what we've talked about all year and what we're trying to build, teamwork and raising each other help and helping each other."
