The Milwaukee Bucks are now your NBA Cup champions. Facing a Thunder team seen by many as NBA title favorites, the Bucks pulled out a one-sided 97-81 victory in the NBA Cup championship game in Las Vegas on Tuesday night.
The victory capped a 7-0 Bucks run in the NBA Cup game, reaffirming their position as contenders in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee has now won 14 of 20 games since the slow start and improved to 14-11 to move back to the right side of the Eastern Conference standings.
Tuesday’s victory does not count in the rankings. But in Milwaukee, it certainly matters for a Bucks team that was written off as a pretender early in the season.
The Bucks won Tuesday night thanks to physical play from Giannis Antetokounmpo, strong shooting from Damian Lillard and a dominant defense that stifled Oklahoma City’s shooters. Lillard and Antetokounmpo played like their All-Star selves as the Thunder had one of their worst shooting nights of the season.
Oklahoma City shot 33.7% from the field and was awful from long range, shooting 5-of-32 (15.6%) from beyond the arc. Better nights will come from this talented Thunder squad. But Tuesday belonged to the Bucks.
The first half was anything but a hit. Oklahoma City opened a 28-27 lead in the first quarter, which Milwaukee countered in the second quarter to take a 51-50 lead into halftime of what would be a thriller.
But the Bucks opened the third quarter with back-to-back 3s from Taurean Prince and Lillard and didn’t look back.
The Bucks seized control with a 26-14 lead in the third quarter and never let off the gas in the fourth. While Milwaukee’s shooters rained down three seconds, shot after shot from Oklahoma City clattered off the iron. Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo took advantage whenever he found a mismatch in the post, which was often.
By the time the clock ticked under two minutes, Bucks fans in Las Vegas were celebrating. There was also plenty of reason to celebrate on the bench in Milwaukee. As NBA Cup winners, each Bucks player received a bonus of approximately $515,000.
It wasn’t so bad for the Thunder players, who each took home about $216,000 as runners-up. But the high-profile loss will certainly sting for a young team looking to assert itself as a contender.
Antetokounmpo led the way for Milwaukee with a triple-double of 26 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists. He added three blocks and two steals while shooting 10-of-19 from the field. Lillard scored 23 points, four rebounds and four assists while shooting 5-of-10 from 3-point range.
The Bucks, the NBA’s third-best 3-point shooting team (38.9%), were strong from beyond the arc as a whole, shooting 17 of 40 (42.5%) from long range. Milwaukee secured a 52-43 lead on the boards and assisted on 25 of 34 field goals made.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the top scorer for Oklahoma City with 21 points, four rebounds and two assists. But he shot 8-for-24 from the floor and 2-for-9 from 3 in an effort that summed up the Thunder’s shooting night.
Isaiah Hartenstein was the only Thunder player to shoot 50% or better from the field on a 6-for-11 effort that produced 16 points and 12 rebounds. Jalen Williams shot 8-of-20 on his way to 18 points.
It was a dominant effort on both sides of the ball for the Bucks – the kind that looked to renew the championship hopes that seemed lost in the first month of the season.
After a triple-double tonight, the Greek Freak is a season tournament MVP, a regular season MVP, an All-Star Game MVP and an NBA Finals MVP. He and LeBron James are the only players who can say that.
Important note: Darvin Ham was head coach during the Lakers’ undefeated run in the IST last year and is now an assistant coach on this Bucks team. He is 14-0 in NBA Cup play. A very specific legend in the making.
FINAL: Bucks 97, Thunder 81
After entering halftime with a one-point lead, the Bucks demolish the Thunder to win the second NBA regular season tournament. Bring on the confetti.
Giannis leaves with MVP chants and a 26-19-10 stat line, with Milwaukee leading by 19. He got my vote. Would he perhaps like to collect another copy?
Doc Rivers clears his bench as Antetokounmpo heads out to the chant of “MVP.” We’re done here.
Nearly three minutes left and we’re still on our way to a comfortable Bucks victory. They led 94-77, with Giannis Antetokounmpo adding 26 points, 18 rebounds, nine assists, two steals and two blocks.
Okay, so… the in-game stats don’t count. The match will not be included in the rankings. But what about techies and glaring points of error?
Bobby Portis just got called for a flagrant 1 for his elbow against Isaiah Joe. That’s two free throws and possession for OKC, the kind of swing the Thunder need if they have any hope of rallying, trailing 88-69.
The wave started during this official’s review. Mostly lame and corny. Today? Not that terrible.
Bobby Portis just elbowed Isaiah Joe, putting Joe down. It could be worse. Nikola Mirotic felt those hands.
Competitive play that turns into a route unless OKC puts something together quickly.
End of third quarter: Bucks 77, Thunder 64
The Bucks have taken control thanks to a 26-14 lead in the third quarter. Can the Thunder rally, or will the Bucks win the NBA Cup with a 7-0 record in Cup play?
Make 3 3-24, as SGA misses the buzzer. 77-64, dollars.
The Thunder: a robust 3-23 from 3.
Bucks jump on Thunder to start third quarter. They are just as snappy and slightly larger in the front. 69-60.
Lady with 5-point possession
The Bucks seize control. Damian Lillard just had a five-point possession to extend Milwaukee’s lead to 64-53. Lu Dort and Mark Daigneault were both assessed technical fouls after a loose ball scrum. Lillard hit both free throws and then closed out the possession with a 3-pointer on a jump ball for Milwaukee’s biggest lead of the night.
We are back in action. Taurean Prince and Damian Lillard open the third quarter with Bucks 3s to extend Milwaukee’s lead to 57-50.
51-50 at half time. It’s entertaining and competitive. Exactly what the league wanted and probably needed.
Halftime: Bucks 51, Thunder 50
We have a match worthy of a championship match. Milwaukee leads 51-50 after a competitive first half. The Thunder keep it close despite a terrible half from three points away.
Leaders at half time:
Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo: 14 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 of 9 FGs Damian Lillard: 12 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 of 4 from 3
3-point shooting Bucks: 7 of 18 (38.9%) Thunderstorm: 1 of 17 (5.9%
Isaiah Hartenstein and Andre Jackson received compensatory technicals for their skirmish. No free throws, move on. Each player is at risk of being sent off with another technical player.
