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Bucks beat Warriors without Giannis as new star outshines Steph Curry and gets revenge

Originally posted on HITC | By Luca Rosano | Last updated Oct 31, 2025 11:43 AM ET

The Milwaukee Bucks pulled off an impressive upset win over the Golden State Warriors, and they did it without Giannis Antetokounmpo in the lineup.

Antetokounmpo was sidelined due to left knee soreness, leaving the Bucks without their best player heading into a tough matchup against one of the league’s top teams.

The Warriors were expected to handle business against a shorthanded Bucks squad, but Milwaukee had other plans. They stayed competitive throughout and managed to pull ahead late, thanks in large part to another standout performance from their emerging star.

Ryan Rollins has dropped a career-best 32 points against the Warriors

Ryan Rollins has become a real difference-maker for the Bucks, stepping in at point guard since Kevin Porter Jr.’s injury.

He was locked in from the start, finishing with a career-high 32 points and eight assists, turning it over just once and going 5-of-7 from beyond the arc.

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Rollins outperformed both Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler in this one, getting a bit of payback against his former team.

Drafted by Golden State as the 44th pick in 2022, Rollins eventually moved to Washington before ending up in Milwaukee.

His time with the Warriors was limited, but he’s now finding his stride with the Bucks and looks like he could be a real breakout player this season.

This Ryan Rollins stepback triple ‍

A new career-high (32 PTS) as he seals the Bucks' home win vs. the Warriors! pic.twitter.com/TgRbuPBe6r
— NBA (@NBA) October 31, 2025

Ryan Rollins emerging as a positive presence for the Milwaukee Bucks

Porter Jr. injured his left ankle in the first quarter of the Bucks’ season opener against the Washington Wizards. He hasn’t returned to action since then, which opened up a spot for Rollins in the starting lineup.

Rollins has taken full advantage of the opportunity, putting up 25 points and then 31 points in consecutive games. This season, Rollins is averaging 15.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 3.0 steals per game across 29.8 minutes.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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