The NBA Cup semifinals are set to showcase star power alongside one of the league’s promising young teams.

Key players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard from Milwaukee, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from Oklahoma City, and Atlanta’s Trae Young will highlight the match-ups. The Bucks will go against the Hawks at 4:30 p.m. ET on TNT, while the Thunder will face the Rockets at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC this Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The victors will clash in the NBA Cup final on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. ET, also on ABC.

Following wins on Tuesday by Milwaukee and Oklahoma City, Atlanta and Houston secured the last two semifinal spots on Wednesday. The Hawks claimed a 108-100 win over New York, and the Rockets narrowly beat Golden State 91-90, an ending marred by a disputed foul call in the waning moments.

Here are the winners and losers from the NBA Cup quarterfinals:

Winner

Alperen Sengun of the Houston Rockets

The 22-year-old center from Turkey, Alperen Sengun, proved himself as one of the league’s elite big men during his performance against the Warriors, scoring 26 points (10-for-18 shooting), grabbing 11 rebounds, dishing out five assists, and making three steals. With an average of 18.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 5.3 assists, Sengun has been instrumental in Houston’s successful run (17-8), placing them tied for second in the Western Conference. This victory against Golden State marked their first win over the Warriors since 2020.

Loser

Golden State Warriors in the Final Minutes

The Warriors are disgruntled over a foul called by referee Bill Kennedy during a loose ball scramble with only 3.5 seconds on the clock while holding a 90-89 lead. Although the call was deemed appropriate in the league’s Last Two-Minute report, it was still controversial, leading to Jalen Green converting two crucial free throws for the game-winning points.

Following the game, coach Steve Kerr is expected to face a fine for his comments. However, it’s important to note that the Warriors failed to score in the last three minutes, even having led 90-84 with just over three minutes left in the game and maintaining a six-point lead with 80 seconds remaining.

Winner

Jalen Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks and Their Rebounding Efforts

Jalen Johnson stood out with 21 points in the Hawks’ 108-100 victory over New York. He was one of three players on the team to score at least 20 points. Trae Young contributed with 22 points and 11 assists, while DeAndre Hunter led off the bench with 24 points. Johnson’s performance also included 15 rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and two blocks. Atlanta dominated the boards, recording 22 offensive rebounds compared to New York’s 12.

Loser

New York Knicks’ Third Quarter Struggles

Holding a 62-52 advantage with 9:50 remaining in the third quarter, the Knicks faltered drastically. Over a nine-minute stretch, Atlanta outscored New York 29-8, flipping the score to 81-70 in favor of the Hawks. Jalen Brunson struggled, scoring just 14 points on 5-for-15 shooting, and along with OG Anunoby, the duo shot a combined 10-for-32, including 3-for-15 from beyond the arc.

Winner

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Oklahoma City

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, currently topping the NBA MVP rankings, added to his impressive season with a stellar performance of 39 points on 15-for-23 shooting, along with eight rebounds, five assists, three steals, and a block in the Thunder’s 118-104 win over Dallas in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. Oklahoma City is on a strong win streak, and Gilgeous-Alexander is the driving force behind their success, boasting averages of 30.2 points, 6.3 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game, coupled with an efficient shooting percentage of 51.5% from the field.

Loser

Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks in the First and Third Quarters

MVP contender Luka Doncic struggled early on, managing only two points from 1-for-5 shooting and committing three turnovers in the first quarter. In the third quarter, he was only 1-for-3 shooting as Oklahoma City outscored Dallas 65-43 in those two periods. Doncic ended with 16 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and four steals, but his six turnovers and poor shooting marred the positive aspects of his performance.

Winner

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered an outstanding performance with 37 points, seven rebounds, four blocks, and two steals, while Damian Lillard added 28 points and nine assists as the Bucks triumphed over Orlando 114-109 in their NBA Cup quarterfinal. The Bucks have been on fire, winning 11 of their last 14 games, with Antetokounmpo and Lillard combining for an impressive average of 51.2 points, 13 rebounds, and 12.7 assists during this span, showcasing the success of their partnership since Lillard’s acquisition.

Loser

Orlando Magic’s Three-Point Shooting Woes

Despite a competitive five-point loss to Milwaukee, Orlando’s poor shooting from beyond the arc (22.2% on 3-pointers) was detrimental, especially after leading by three points with just over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter. The absence of key players like Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner due to oblique injuries impacted the game. Additionally, the Magic rank last in the league in three-point shooting at 30.9% and are 26th in makes per game (11.6), highlighting a need for improvement in that area.