The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 97-81 on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to secure their first-ever NBA Cup title.
Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a monster performance, earning tournament MVP honors, while his team secured a season-defining victory.
Giannis Leads the Bucks to Glory
The Bucks’ journey to this historic NBA Cup victory has been nothing short of remarkable.
After a rocky 2-8 start to the season, Milwaukee has rallied around their superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has been an unstoppable force.
In Tuesday night’s final, Antetokounmpo put together a stat line for the ages: 26 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists.
His versatility and relentless attacking in the paint were too much for the Thunder to handle, as he once again displayed why he’s a favorite for the MVP award.
The game wasn’t just about Giannis, though. The Bucks’ defense was suffocating, particularly against the Thunder’s high-powered offense.
Oklahoma City, known for its depth and shooting prowess, was held to an abysmal 5-for-32 shooting from three-point range.
The Bucks also restricted OKC to just 16 points in the paint during the first half, making it clear from the start that this wasn’t going to be their night.
Thunder Struggles: A Disappointing Showing
For Oklahoma City, this was a night to forget. Despite coming into the final as the top team in the Western Conference, the Thunder struggled mightily in every facet of the game.
Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 21 points but on a miserable 8-for-24 shooting. He couldn’t find any rhythm against the Bucks’ defense, which swarmed him at every opportunity.
The Thunder’s three-point shooting, a key strength this season, was completely neutralized.
A 5-for-32 display from beyond the arc highlighted Oklahoma City’s struggles, and they were unable to find any consistent offense against the Bucks’ suffocating defense.
For coach Mark Daigneault, the loss will certainly sting, but the focus will soon shift to regrouping and making adjustments as they prepare for the regular season’s second half.
Missing Chet Holmgren, their promising young center who is sidelined with a hip injury, didn’t help. Holmgren’s shot-blocking ability and stretch-5 potential could have given the Thunder a significant advantage, but his absence was felt strongly against a dominant Bucks frontcourt.
Bucks Defense Key to Victory
While Giannis stole the spotlight with his MVP performance, the Bucks’ defense was equally pivotal in securing the championship.
The Thunder, who rely heavily on perimeter shooting, were held to just 13.3% from three-point range in the second and third quarters combined.
The Bucks managed to clamp down on the Thunder’s shooters and kept them from finding easy scoring opportunities.
Milwaukee’s defensive game plan was a stark contrast to Oklahoma City’s, who were unable to impose their will on the paint and struggled to find any offensive rhythm.
What This Means for the Bucks’ Season
Winning the NBA Cup gives the Bucks even more momentum as they look to build on their recent surge.
After a slow start, the Bucks have now proven themselves as legitimate contenders, with this victory providing the perfect springboard into the rest of the season.
With Giannis at the helm and a team that is gelling at the right time, the Bucks will be a force to be reckoned with come playoff time.
While the NBA Cup is not the ultimate goal for Milwaukee, the victory provides confidence, particularly after a narrow loss to the Boston Celtics earlier in the month.
The Bucks are now on a roll, and the rest of the league will need to be wary of a team that is finding its rhythm.
A Glimpse into the Future: Thunder’s Title Hopes
Although the Thunder’s championship hopes were dashed in the NBA Cup final, their future looks incredibly bright.
With an impressive mix of talent, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren (once he returns), Oklahoma City remains one of the most promising young teams in the league.
While they’ll have to address their shooting woes and defensive gaps, particularly against bigger teams like the Bucks, the Thunder have the potential to be a serious contender once the postseason rolls around.
A healthy Holmgren could be the missing piece that puts them over the top.
2024 NBA Cup Knockout Stage Results
Quarterfinals, Dec. 10: Bucks 114, Magic 109 | Thunder 118, Mavericks 104
Quarterfinals, Dec. 11: Hawks 108, Knicks 100 | Rockets 91, Warriors 90
Semifinals, Dec. 14: Bucks 110, Hawks 102 | Thunder 111, Rockets 96
Championship, Dec. 17: Bucks 97, Thunder 81
