Doc Rivers and his Milwaukee Bucks hosted the Charlotte Hornets for their NBA Cup group play matchup, looking to bounce back after losing the first meeting 111-100 in Charlotte. The home team prevailed this time, edging the Hornets 147-134 in a wild game that featured 32 lead changes and required overtime to determine a winner.
Nov 14, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives for the basket against Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate (14) during overtime at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers pointed to turnovers, particularly in the early stages, as the reason the Hornets stayed competitive throughout regulation. Milwaukee committed 22 turnovers, while Charlotte had 13.
“They had 13 more shots and [six] more free throw [attempts], too. We had to shoot 65% to win the game… To shoot 65%, and you go to overtime, is saying a lot.” said the Bucks head coach during his post-game availability.
The victory kept Milwaukee from suffering back-to-back defeats, following their November 12 loss to the Hornets in North Carolina. Avoiding consecutive losses matters even more to the Bucks’ fanbase, especially after star Giannis Antetokounmpo remarked in April, “Good teams don’t lose two in a row.”
The Bucks surviving the Hornets onslaught
Nov 14, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) shoots during the second quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
The Bucks struggled to assert themselves in the first half, with Antetokounmpo slow to find his scoring touch. Despite that, he was actively creating opportunities for teammates early on and consistently made smart passes throughout the night. The game also marked his return after missing the previous matchup in Charlotte because of knee tendinopathy.
The young Hornets received a huge lift from Wisconsin-native Kon Knueppel, who delivered a standout performance with 32 points on 60 percent shooting, including four of nine from three-point range. Miles Bridges matched him with 32 points of his own and added seven rebounds.
Nov 14, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma (18) shoots against Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabaté (14) during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
“I thought we needed the size defensively,” Rivers said about starting Kuzma. “I love Kuz with that group.” In just his second start of the season, the veteran forward scored a season-high 29 points to lead the team. He also recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds, added five assists, and chipped in four steals.
Milwaukee will face the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday at Fiserv Forum, playing the second game of their back-to-back, with tip-off set for 8 p.m. Eastern.