The Milwaukee Bucks are getting ready for what they intend to be a successful postseason campaign. They’re striking more appropriate notes now.

With a dominant 46 points and 16 rebounds, Giannis Antetokounmpo helped the Bucks defeat the Chicago Bulls 113-97 on Friday night.With his 489th win (including playoff victories), Antetokounmpo eclipsed Sidney Moncrief as the most successful player in Milwaukee history, and the Bucks triumphed for the sixth time in a row.After multiple acrimonious exchanges, Nikola Vucevic of Chicago was removed. There wasn’t much drama elsewhere.After Chicago closed the gap to eight points early in the fourth quarter, the Bucks embarked on a 17-0 run. The Bucks lead by 14 at the half. For the fourth consecutive game, they also allowed less than 100 points to be scored.

“We’re winning games, but for us, it’s not about right now,” said coach Doc Rivers, who’s 8-7 since replacing the fired Adrian Griffin. “Our whole key is getting ready. That’s the first thing I told them. We still have work to do, we’re still pushing, we got to get better. It’s nicer to get wins than to lose, but we’re not where we want to be yet.”

But the signs, at least lately, are promising, particularly when it comes to the defense. This was the sixth time in the past nine games the Bucks held an opponent under 100 points; they did it just once in the first 52.

“Everybody has to be on the same page, and I feel like the last couple of games, we’re doing that and that’s why our defense has taken a step,” said Antetokounmpo, who had six assists and made two 3-pointers. “Hopefully, we can keep it up.”

With 16 points, Damian Lillard scored. For the third time in four games this season, the Bucks defeated the Bulls with the help of Patrick Beverley’s 14 points.DeMar DeRozan of Chicago became the 35th player in NBA history to reach the 23,000 point mark. After missing his first six attempts from the field, the six-time All-Star finished with 12 points, all but two coming in the second half. He also went 5 of 13 from the field.With 22 points, Coby White shined.Vucevic was dismissed early in the fourth quarter after recording 17 points and nine rebounds. Disappointed that he was not called after missing a jumper, he fouled hard on a driving A.J. Green and was ejected with 9:27 left in the game.Less than a minute into the fourth quarter, White made two foul shots, making the score 84-76. But when Green made a three-pointer, the Bucks easily defeated the Bulls.As of right now, Antetokounmpo stated, “it’s just trust.” All we need to do is have faith in each other. That’s all, win or lose. It will be awful if we lose, but we must maintain the same level of trust.”

Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to a 58-44 halftime advantage with 23 points and eight rebounds.Whether he was setting up teammates or making layups and dunks, the two-time MVP just got his way. In the opening minutes, he produced a move worthy of a highlight reel when he drove to the top of the key and flipped a no-look, over-the-shoulder ball to Brook Lopez for a three.Before the Bulls closed the gap to four early in the second quarter, the Bucks had a 15-point lead in the first quarter. In the last four minutes of the half, Milwaukee outscored Chicago 14-6 to break open a six-point deficit. Lillard’s two free throws and finger roll set off that run.In the final seconds, Antetokounmpo scored a basket off an alley-oop, bringing the score to 13 points. DeRozan then got his first two points for Chicago when he made two free throws, but Jae Crowder nailed a corner 3 at the buzzer to send the Bucks to the locker room with a 14-point lead.Khris Middleton, who hurt his left ankle, is “really close,” according to Rivers, to making a comeback. For the tenth consecutive game, the three-time All-Star was absent.”The past three days have been fantastic,” stated Rivers.