NBA Cup Final Recap: Bucks Triumph Over Thunder, Claim In-Season Tournament
In today’s NBA landscape, making three-pointers is essential. During the NBA Cup final on Tuesday, the Milwaukee Bucks excelled in this area while the Oklahoma City Thunder struggled.
Having two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo certainly adds to the Bucks’ advantage.
The Bucks secured the NBA Cup by defeating the Thunder 97-81, thanks to their 3-point shooting, a triple-double effort from Antetokounmpo (26 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists), and 23 points from Damian Lillard.
Milwaukee outperformed the Thunder in 3-point shooting 51-15, shooting 42.5% from beyond the arc (17 out of 40) while Oklahoma City hit only five of 32 attempts (15.6%). With such a significant difference, winning a game in today’s NBA becomes nearly impossible.
“Winning feels amazing,” said Antetokounmpo. “It’s fulfilling to execute our game plan and see the outcome we aimed for.”
Brook Lopez contributed 13 points and nine rebounds, and Gary Trent Jr. added another 13 points off the bench for the Bucks.
While the outcome of this match won’t affect the standings, the Bucks have bounced back after a rough start to the season, now winning 13 out of their last 16 games.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 21 points but struggled with his shooting, going 8-for-24 from the field and 2-for-9 on 3-pointers.
Bucks vs. Thunder Game Insights
Giannis Antetokounmpo Claims NBA Cup MVP Honors
Antetokounmpo was named MVP of the NBA Cup. Over six Cup games, he averaged 30.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 2.8 blocks, and 1.2 steals, shooting an impressive 66.7% from the field.
Final Score: Bucks 97, Thunder 81 – Milwaukee Wins NBA Cup
Antetokounmpo Achieves Triple-Double
Antetokounmpo’s assist in the fourth quarter secured his triple-double with 26 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists, in addition to three blocks and two steals, helping Milwaukee clinch the NBA Cup.
Bucks Extend Lead at the Start of the Fourth Quarter
The Thunder were hoping for a comeback in the final quarter. With a quick 6-2 scoring run from Milwaukee, highlighted by 3-pointers from Gary Trent Jr. and Brook Lopez, the Bucks increased their lead to 83-66 with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Bucks Carry a Comfortable Lead into the Final Quarter: Bucks 77, Thunder 64
Giannis Antetokounmpo is closing in on his triple-double as the Bucks hold a 77-64 advantage against Oklahoma City heading into the final quarter.
After three quarters, Antetokounmpo has tallied 26 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists, while Damian Lillard adds 20 points. Though only those two Bucks players scored in double digits, five others contributed at least five points.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder with 19 points, and both Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein have 14 points. However, Oklahoma City is struggling from beyond the arc, shooting just 3-for-24 on 3-point attempts and trailing by 33-9 in that category – a rough night with only 12.5% accuracy from deep.
Early Timeout for Thunder in the Third Quarter
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault took action early in the third quarter, calling a timeout just 2 minutes and 6 seconds in, as the Bucks were leading 59-53. Antetokounmpo continued to push towards his triple-double with 16 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Damian Lillard has added 15 points following a 3-pointer.
Halftime Score: Bucks 51, Thunder 50
With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard leading the charge, the Bucks edged ahead for a 51-50 lead at halftime. Antetokounmpo posted 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists, while Lillard contributed 12 points, four assists, and three rebounds. The Bucks displayed strong team play with 14 assists on 19 made shots.
The Thunder struggled early, going 1-for-17 on 3-point attempts and getting outscored by an overwhelming 21-3 from long range. Isaiah Hartenstein led Oklahoma City with 14 points, followed by Jalen Williams with 11 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 10. The latter faced challenges in the first half, going just 4-for-13 from the field and 1-for-5 from deep.
Controversy Flare as Technical Fouls Issued
Technical fouls were given to Milwaukee’s Andre Jackson Jr. and Oklahoma City’s Isaiah Hartenstein after a brief scuffle occurred with 1:56 left in the second quarter.
It seemed Jackson delivered a slight shove to Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during a field goal attempt. Following that, Hartenstein and Jackson exchanged words and had to be separated by officials. After reviewing the incident, both players were assessed technical fouls.
Thunder Keep the Pressure Early
Isaiah Hartenstein (12 points) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (10 points) have been steady for the Thunder.
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Jalen Williams, alongside a total of eight points, has contributed to the Thunder’s score of 41-37 against the Bucks with 6:15 remaining in the second quarter. Leading the Bucks is Damian Lillard with 12 points. Milwaukee has significantly outperformed Oklahoma City with a 3-point shooting advantage, scoring 21 points to OKC’s mere 3. On the other hand, Oklahoma City boasts an impressive 69.6% shooting accuracy on shots taken inside the 3-point arc, while Milwaukee struggles, going just 5-for-16 on 2-point attempts.
End of First Quarter: Thunder 28, Bucks 27
During a first quarter filled with excitement, featuring six lead changes, the Thunder managed to take a slight edge with a score of 28-27 after 12 minutes of play. For Oklahoma City, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Hartenstein each netted 10 points, with Gilgeous-Alexander also grabbing two rebounds and dishing out two assists.
The dynamic duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard accounted for 13 of Milwaukee’s points, and the Bucks were efficient from beyond the arc, making 5 of their 9 attempts 3-pointers to stay competitive.
In this opening quarter, OKC shot 57.1% from the floor but struggled with a 1-for-6 showing on 3-pointers, while Milwaukee recorded 9-for-20 shooting from the field.
Bucks’ 3-Point Game Strong
Despite the Thunder’s solid 10-for-17 field goal shooting, they have yet to make a 3-point shot, going 0-for-4. Conversely, the Bucks are shooting 46.7% overall and have successfully landed 4 of their 7 3-point attempts, taking a 22-20 lead with 3:25 remaining in the first quarter. Taurean Prince, Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis, and Damian Lillard are all contributing from beyond the arc for Milwaukee.
Noteworthy Performances from Hartenstein and Williams
Isaiah Hartenstein, a strategic addition during the offseason, made an excellent start, scoring six points on three attempts and grabbing two rebounds within the first three minutes. Meanwhile, Jalen Williams, who is vying for his first All-Star nod, has contributed 4 points along with one rebound, one assist, one steal, and one block, helping the Thunder secure an early 16-9 lead and prompting a Milwaukee timeout with 7:30 left in the first quarter.
Middleton Absent for the Bucks
Milwaukee’s small forward Khris Middleton, who made his return to the court on December 6, is sidelined due to a non-COVID illness.
NBA Cup Final Showcases MVP Contenders
Giannis Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP award winner, faces off against Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished second in MVP voting last season to Denver’s Nikola Jokic, a three-time MVP recipient. Both players are strong contenders for the 2024-25 MVP title as they meet in the NBA Cup final.
After starting the season with a 2-8 record, the Bucks have turned things around, winning 12 of their last 15 games, largely thanks to Antetokounmpo’s stellar performance. He currently leads the league in scoring with an average of 32.7 points per game, along with 11.5 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.6 blocks, shooting a career-best 61.4%. Should Milwaukee continue to rise in the Eastern Conference standings, moving into the top four by the end of the season, Antetokounmpo’s case for a third MVP award will be strong.
Gilgeous-Alexander is having a remarkable season as well, averaging 30.3 points, 6.3 assists, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.9 steals, with shooting percentages of 51% from the field, 34% from beyond the arc, and 86.4% from the free-throw line. The Thunder currently sit atop the Western Conference with a 20-5 record. Only two players (Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic) are achieving at least 30 points, 6.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game this season. A 60-win season with these statistics might lead Gilgeous-Alexander to secure his first MVP award.
Predictions for the NBA Cup Final
- Jeff Zillgitt, YSL News: Thunder 112, Bucks 100
- Lorenzo Reyes, YSL News: Thunder 108, Bucks 101
- James Williams, YSL News: Thunder 100, Bucks 98
NBA Cup Player Prize Money
Here’s how the prize money is allocated for players in the 2024 NBA Cup:
- Players from losing quarterfinal teams: $51,497
- Players from losing semifinal teams: $102,994
- Players from the team that loses in the championship game: $205,988
- Players from the championship-winning team: $514,970
Reason for Increased NBA Cup Prize Money
The increase in prize money stems from an agreement between the players and the league made during the 2023 collective bargaining agreement concerning basketball-related income.
After the inaugural NBA Cup season in 2023, the collective bargaining agreement stipulates that prize money will rise “for each successive Salary Cap Year: (A) for each IST Player on the winning team of the IST Finals Game, an amount equal to $500,000 multiplied by the ‘BRI Growth Factor’ for that Salary Cap Year; (B) for each IST Player on the losing team of the IST Finals Game, an amount equal to $200,000 multiplied by the BRI Growth Factor for that Salary Cap Year; (C) for each IST Player on a team that loses in the IST Semifinals, $100,000 multiplied by the BRI Growth Factor for that year; and (D) for each IST Player on a team that loses in the IST Quarterfinals, $50,000 multiplied by the BRI Growth Factor for that year.”
What exactly is the BRI Growth Factor? According to the CBA, “the BRI Growth Factor for a Salary Cap Year is a ratio, where the numerator is the BRI from the previous Salary Cap Year and the denominator is the BRI from the 2022-23 Salary Cap Year; however, the NBA and the Players Association may agree to lower the BRI Growth Factor for one (1) or more Salary Cap Years to a smaller portion not less than one (1).
In simpler words, the amount of prize money is increasing by approximately 3% each season.
When is the NBA Cup final?
The NBA Cup final will begin at 8:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
How to watch the NBA Cup final
On Tuesday, you can watch the NBA Cup final at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC, and it will also be available for streaming on Fubo.
Where will the NBA Cup final take place?
The final is scheduled to be held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Tuesday.