Milwaukee is due for celebration after an impressive NBA Cup victory over the #1 team in the Western Conference.
The Bucks have officially won 13 of their last 16 games, highlighted by an undefeated NBA Cup run. Milwaukee hasn’t just turned their season around—they’ve put the league on notice.
The Oklahoma City Thunder sit three games atop the Western Conference with a 20-5 record. As one of the best teams in the league, it’s no surprise they played in the final. It is surprising that the team who started 2-8 beat them by 16.
Milwaukee’s Aces in Vegas
With Khris Middleton being a late scratch due to illness, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard were prompted to lead the Bucks to a smooth victory. They combined for 49 points to further their case as the best duo in the NBA.
Giannis was on fire Tuesday night, as he went for 19 rebounds, 10 assists, two steals, and three blocks to go along with his 26 points. This marked his fourth triple-double of the season and another MVP-worthy performance.
Milwaukee’s bench rose to the occasion as well, with A.J. Green adding nine points and Gary Trent Jr. notching 13. Bobby Portis also contributed to the rebound difference by reeling in nine boards.
Lillard led Milwaukee’s three-point barrage, sinking five from deep. He spoke on the team’s performance postgame.
“We defended. We played well from the start of the game all the way through the finish,” Lillard said. “I think it just showed what we’ve been building.”
The Thunder’s Fold
At halftime, the Thunder trailed Milwaukee by one point, marking a competitive first half led by Isaiah Hartenstein and Jalen Williams. They finished the game with a combined 32 points, providing some life for a Thunder team that couldn’t find its stride in the second half.
MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 21 points on 24 shot attempts, shooting 33%. His subpar night was no asset to his team, and he struggled to score against Andre Jackson Jr and AJ Green.
The Thunder’s demise came in the second half when the team couldn’t find its groove on offense. In quarters 3 and 4, the Thunder failed to surpass 20 points.
The biggest difference between the two teams was three-point shooting. Oklahoma City could not compete beyond the arc, shooting 5-32 (15.6%) compared to Milwaukee’s 17-40 (42.5). In the modern NBA, 15 points from three will surely not win games.
Despite the Thunder forcing 19 turnovers, the Bucks’ defensive presence was enough to hold off their offense. Milwaukee outpaced them offensively and held Oklahoma City to its lowest score of the season.
An NBA Cup Championship is cause for celebration, but Milwaukee’s job is certainly not finished. They’ll be tested Friday at 6:30 p.m. against the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers.
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