Everybody has a fortunate quantity in Las Vegas. For the Milwaukee Bucks, it was 3.
And the NBA Cup was their prize.
Event MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 26 factors to go together with 19 rebounds and 10 assists, Damian Lillard added 23 factors and the Bucks related on 17 3-pointers on the way in which to beating the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder 97-81 within the NBA Cup title sport Tuesday night time.
Brook Lopez and Gary Trent Jr. every scored 13 for the Bucks, who joined the Los Angeles Lakers as the one champions of the 2-year-old occasion. A 19-5 Milwaukee run within the second half turned what was a five-point sport right into a 19-point sport early within the fourth, and the Bucks saved management the remainder of the way in which.
“It is nice, it is nice for our workforce,” Antetokounmpo stated. “We’re getting higher. … We all know we’re leaving Vegas as a greater workforce. I am so happy with this group. Man, I am so happy with this group.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 and Jalen Williams added 18 for the Thunder, who had scored not less than 99 factors in each sport this season. However they sputtered in loads of methods Tuesday, getting outscored 51-15 from past the arc and taking pictures solely 34%.
Isaiah Hartenstein had 16 factors and 12 rebounds for Oklahoma Metropolis, which was held to 31 factors after halftime.
It is a sport that solely counted for match functions. There was about $300,000 in extra bonus cash for Bucks gamers — they acquired $514,971 apiece, whereas the Thunder gamers acquired $205,988 every — however the win, the loss and the statistics from the sport will not depend towards the common season.
Mired towards the underside of the NBA after a 2-8 begin, the Bucks have been on a tear since. This was their thirteenth win of their final 16 video games, regardless that it will not be a part of the official report.
Regardless of: When the Bucks emptied their bench with 1:37 left, Antetokounmpo pumped his fists prefer it was a real championship second.
He is received larger video games — he and the Bucks captured the 2021 NBA title, in spite of everything. However they stated from the outset of this match that the NBA Cup was a precedence.
And so they left little doubt ultimately.
Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo share a hug after profitable the NBA Cup. (Picture by Ethan Miller/Getty Photographs)
“We struggled popping out of the gates,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers stated. “Nobody right here doubted what we could be and who we could be and we simply hung in there. We caught collectively and that is the byproduct of a workforce sticking collectively. However we nonetheless have work to do.”
Antetokounmpo was much more succinct: “Job’s not finished,” he stated.
Takeaways
Bucks: Milwaukee performed with out guard Khris Middleton (non-COVID sickness) and nonetheless improved to an NBA-best 12-1 all-time in NBA Cup video games, together with an ideal 7-0 this season. The Bucks’ solely in-season match loss was to Indiana in final 12 months’s semifinals.
Thunder: It was a uncommon night time of enjoying uphill for Oklahoma Metropolis, which trailed by as many as 20. The Thunder trailed by greater than 14 factors in solely two of their 25 video games thus far within the common season — getting down by 30 towards Golden State and by 21 to San Antonio.
Key second
No fewer than 5 gamers ended up on the ground, all scrapping for a free ball with 9:12 left within the third quarter. Thunder ahead Lu Dort was hit with a technical, coach Mark Daigneault acquired one other a number of seconds later and Lillard ended up with a five-point possession — two free throws for the techs, adopted by a 3-pointer.
Key stat
The Thunder are 20-1 this season when main after three quarters. They’re now 0-5 when tied or trailing going into the ultimate quarter (regardless that it can formally be 0-4 since this sport will not be counted).
Up subsequent
The Thunder go to Orlando on Thursday and Miami on Friday. The Bucks go to Cleveland on Friday and host Washington on Saturday.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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