Giannis Antetokounmpo put in a masterful performance as the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA Cup with a convincing 97-81 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Las Vegas on Tuesday.
The two-time NBA MVP had an astonishing triple-double of 26 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists, along with two steals and three blocks. Damian Lillard added 23 points, the Bucks drilled 17 three-pointers, and held the Thunder to just 31 second-half points to secure their place as in-season tournament champions.
One-point halftime lead to a commanding 20-point advantage showcased the defensive prowess of Milwaukee. “That’s who we are,” Antetokounmpo said, emphasizing the team’s ability to dominate after the break.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 21 points, and Jalen Williams contributed 18, but Oklahoma City struggled to find their rhythm from long range, sealing their fate against Milwaukee’s stifling defense.
The victory marked redemption for the Bucks, who fell in the semi-finals to the Indiana Pacers in last year’s inaugural tournament. This time, Milwaukee navigated past the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks en route to the title, continuing their impressive resurgence after a 2-8 season start.
While the NBA Cup final doesn’t impact regular-season records, players on the winning team pocketed over $514,000 each, a significant incentive. Thunder players earned $205,988 each for their runner-up finish.
The Bucks’ triumph solidifies their status as one of the league’s most formidable teams.
