LAS VEGAS – The Milwaukee Bucks made history on Tuesday night, winning the second-ever Emirates NBA Cup at T-Mobile Arena with a dominant 97-81 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The win marked a statement triumph over one of the league’s top teams.
“It reminds us that we can beat anybody,” said Bucks head coach Doc Rivers. “We’re not focused on what others think, only what we believe. From day one of camp, I told the team we could lose to anyone if we don’t play right. I think we’ve learned that lesson well. When we play our game, play together, we’re a tough team to beat.”
Oklahoma City’s defensive efforts forced the Bucks’ stars, Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, to adjust their game, passing the ball frequently. Eventually, their ball movement broke down the Thunder’s defense, allowing the duo to shine in crucial moments.
Antetokounmpo, who was a force throughout the game, capped off his triple-double performance with a powerful block against Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein in the final minutes. As he exited the game with the Bucks leading 97-77 and just 1:37 remaining, the crowd erupted into chants of “M-V-P! M-V-P!” in recognition of his stellar play.
“It’s the best feeling ever,” Antetokounmpo shared. “Winning is always great. Being able to come to a game, execute the game plan, and get the result you want feels incredible.”
The 2021 NBA Finals MVP finished with 26 points, 19 rebounds, 10 assists, three blocks, and two steals, earning him the NBA Cup MVP award.
When asked about their efforts to contain Antetokounmpo, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gave a candid response: “Not great. Could have been better.”
This championship marks the second for Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, adding to the 2021 NBA title he helped the Bucks secure. For Damian Lillard, this is his first championship, further cementing his legacy alongside Antetokounmpo as one of the league’s Top 75 players of all time.
Lillard reflected on the team’s performance, saying, “We were up against a young, hungry team, the No. 1 team in the West. They defend well and have a great all-around game. But I think the way we played as a team, the way we executed, made this victory feel especially rewarding. From defense to offense, everyone did their job, and it showed in the biggest game we’ve had so far. All our hard work, from the film room to practice, paid off tonight.”
With this victory, Doc Rivers becomes the first head coach to win both an NBA title (2008 with Boston) and the NBA Cup. Assistant coach Darvin Ham and forward Taurean Prince also earned their second NBA Cup championship, having won the inaugural title with the Lakers last year.
BOX SCORE: Bucks 97, Thunder 81
Milwaukee dismantled Oklahoma City’s top-ranked defense with precise ball movement and sizzling three-point shooting, connecting on 14 of 33 attempts (42.4%) from beyond the arc. A Brook Lopez three-pointer midway through the fourth quarter pushed the Bucks’ lead to 20 points with 9:32 remaining. In contrast, the Thunder struggled, making only 3 of 25 (12%) from three-point range at that point.
The Bucks continued their three-point barrage, finishing with 17 made threes while the Thunder managed just 4 on 30 attempts.
Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. shared his thoughts on the team’s collective mindset: “We know their strategy—taking Dame out of the game and stopping Giannis. Everyone has a specific role to play, and no matter what’s going on, we’re all focused on one goal—winning.”
With Khris Middleton sidelined due to illness, Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard combined for 14 assists. Antetokounmpo skillfully navigated triple teams, while Lillard handled full-court pressure and double teams, both creating open shots for their teammates. Eventually, the Thunder had to abandon their strategy.
“We got a lot of easy opportunities from that,” Lopez explained. “We made them pay. The way we’ve grown in terms of patience and how well the rest of the guys got to their spots showed. The ball movement was excellent, and everyone played unselfishly.”
Despite committing 19 turnovers, including some from illegal screens, the Bucks maintained their offensive flow, recording 25 assists on 34 made baskets with the starters in.
Defensively, the Bucks focused on securing rebounds as a team, with Antetokounmpo, Lopez (nine rebounds), and Bobby Portis Jr. (eight rebounds) leading the charge in finishing possessions.
Lillard scored 23 points and Lopez added 13. Trent had 13 off the bench. Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 21 points while Jalen Williams had 18 and Isaiah Hartenstein added 16.
It really shows our potential,” Lopez said. “It shows how far we’ve come. We didn’t start the season the way we wanted, but we were honest with each other, reflected, and kept pushing. We stayed committed and never quit, even in tough moments. The progress we’ve made, from where we started to here, proves the makeup of this team. We won’t settle—this is great, but the ultimate goal is still ahead.”
Trent added, “It’s great because it’s the first time we’ve achieved something together. Since fall, we’ve been trying to figure things out, adjusting lineups and learning how to make it work. It feels like we’ve figured it out, and now we just have to keep going.”
Portis, eager for the Bucks’ home opener on Saturday against Washington, reflected on the accomplishment.
“It feels great—not as great as an NBA championship, but it’s still fun to raise a banner,” he said. “Getting to raise one in our gym is the best part. The medals and the championship are cool, but it’ll really set in when we get home and raise that banner. That’s the biggest accomplishment—our names forever linked for doing something special as a group.”
Thanks to his skill with the ball and his almost unmatched footwork in traffic, Gilgeous-Alexander, the MVP candidate for Oklahoma City, is one of the league’s most creative scorers, scoring over 30 points per game with a variety of moves inside the three-point line. It was therefore not surprising that Andre Jackson Jr. would spend the most of the game following him for the Bucks.
With his speed, power, and ready attitude, the second-year guard for the Bucks has emerged as Rivers’ go-to defensive stopper. On Tuesday night, he gave Gilgeous-Alexander everything he could.
“You realize that we’re all mortal? That’s my perspective on life, and I feel the same way about basketball,” Jackson remarked. It’s likely that you take the most shots if you score thirty points. I’m not scared to take on anyone since that’s my job and who I’ve always needed to be to get this far. The fact that I’m willing to take on any challenge and competition is what will keep me moving forward.
Gilgeous-Alexander was 0 for 4 in the second quarter after scoring 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting in the first quarter. In order to give Gilgeous-Alexander some space in the third, the Thunder screened Jackson; nevertheless, the Bucks were eager to assist in order to make things difficult for him. The rest of the squad was restricted to 14 points, but he finished the session with nine points after going 3 for 8.
Daigneault responded, “Jackson’s pressure,” when asked why Gilgeous-Alexander was pushed off the ball more frequently than normal. “We shift him off the ball instead of having him go get the ball in the backcourt and work hard to get it and get it over half court because they’re picking up full and he’s denying them full. We have witnessed this attack with Dillon Brooks. We have witnessed this attack with Herb Jones. He can be played in a variety of ways. Teams try to play him that way, and we have built-in solutions. We attempt to do that since we have other guys that can handle and create.”
Trent led the individual defense against Alexander when Jackson was on the bench. Trent, another long, rangy defender, forced Gilgeous-Alexander to use his arsenal in an attempt to create attack. The explosive scorer was occasionally picked up by Lillard and AJ Green.
Jackson stated, “I think everybody came in and played their part,” “After I had already picked him up on every possession, I watched AJ get through screens on Shai. Now, AJ is picking him up, and Gary Trent is picking him up. You know, it takes more than one guy. I believe we all shared the belief that winning a battle requires an army and a team. We were talking to each other and the proper guys were talking during all of our timeouts and huddles. Giannis and Dame both had loud voices today, and I believe that just permeated every one of us, and we carried that same energy from that huddle onto the court.”
Additionally, Antetokounmpo, Lopez, and Portis were in the paint to either make Alexander’s shot more difficult or force him to pass it to a teammate if he did get a step.
” Trent told the Journal Sentinel, “We have waves of people that come at him.” “We put ‘Dre on him early on to wear him down and make him tired. I’ve been entering the game about the seven-minute mark in the second half. After that, I’ll enter and play a little stand-up defense to help wear them down a bit more. We wanted to try our hardest to wear them down during the entire game.
It was Gilgeous-Alexander’s poorest game of the season from the field, even though the individual stats don’t matter. He only made 8 out of 24 shots (33%).
“Man, I think we’ve got one of the best coaching staffs in the entire NBA and the way that they got me prepared and understanding his tendencies and being able to watch film with coaches and them actually caring enough to sit down with me and run through it and break things down with me, that means the world to me,” Jackson stated. “Because I might not be as prepared without that. We have a fantastic set of coaches and players, and I believe that’s what really prepared me. I’m playing with all-NBA players, including champions, all-stars, and the greatest of the best. They’ll keep teaching me stuff, telling me where to go, when to be there, and how to protect certain guys. It will just keep rubbing off on me. I simply want to thank my coaches and teammates for helping me be ready.
Gilgeous-Alexander thought he received enough shots and touches, but they didn’t fall.
He remarked, “He did a good job tonight,” about Jackson. “I don’t believe he was the cause of the night I had. Despite how I felt tonight, I managed to reach my location and my shot, but I failed to make any progress. That kind of thing happens. Such nights do occur. However, he was aggressive and played hard. I haven’t seen anything like this before. However, I do believe that I was missing more than anything else.
Bucks played to win NBA Cup, money a nice addition
For every player on the Bucks’ 15-man guaranteed roster, the victory over Oklahoma City was worth $300,000.
Technically, that is $308,982.
Before the game, Green admitted, “It’s crazy that if we win, that’s how much we’ll get paid for it.”
Due to a clause in the collective bargaining agreement that requires it to rise from the first year using the “basketball related income” growth factor, the cash award for the NBA Cup final grew little over the previous year.
Each member of the winning Cup team won $514,970, the runner-up team received $205,988, and Ryan Rollins, Liam Robbins, and Stanley Umude of Milwaukee received half of that amount.
Assistant coaches earn 75% of the head coach’s total compensation, which is the same as what the players receive.
“It’s money that can change your life, okay?” Antetokounmpo stated on Monday. Of course, you can use $500,000 as a down payment on a home. The down payment can be applied to two different homes. Some athletes may never earn that much during their careers.
Therefore, you must play for them as well. “We play for the young guys because this money will mean a lot to them,” is a common joke in our locker room. But because there is a lot of money involved, it truly means a lot to everyone.
The players knew that money was important going into the semifinals and final in Las Vegas, but once the team made it to the Final, the focus shifted to the actual game. Even Portis, arguably the most outspoken on his desire to get a half-million dollar lump payout for winning two games, stated that he would consider it only after the fact.
Green and Jackson, however, stated on Monday that it would not serve as a real motivator for them.
Green stated calmly, “That shouldn’t make you play any harder.” “It really ought not to. Every game, we should compete and give it our best. I can’t be persuaded to play for money alone. I don’t play basketball for that reason. We receive a sizable sum of money simply for playing and being here, win or lose, which is an amazing blessing.
“Yeah, the money is big, but I’m a competitor at heart,” Jackson added. It’s the NBA. That’s the main point. Ultimately, though, I see it as a chance to advance my career, you know? My performance on camera will determine if I land my next deal and whether I can stay in this league for a long time. I’m considering it more from the perspective of longevity. and merely aiming for a prize. There aren’t many opportunities to win, thus I believe this in-season competition is a fantastic one.
Have you noticed?
In the first half, the Bucks made up for some of Khris Middleton’s playmaking with a few deft passes from Pat Connaughton and Taurean Prince. Prince drove baseline after Connaughton bounded to him, and then he floated a pass to Antetokounmpo for a slam. It was a good concept because Antetokounmpo normally has a strong chance of lob dunking if Middleton inbounds.
Connaughton later drove hard to the baseline and found a cutting Jackson for a basket after threading a ball through the middle of the Thunder defense.
The plays were highlights of the Bucks’ necessary ball movement against the NBA’s top defense.
Khris Middleton’s sickness prevents him from playing in the NBA Cup final.
Just a few hours before tipoff, Khris Middleton attempted to take part in a walkthrough but was sent back to the hotel and demoted to doubtful to play, according to Rivers.
“Just didn’t feel good,” commented Rivers. Additionally, we didn’t want to risk his being among the boys. We have back-to-back games after this (Dec. 20 in Cleveland and Dec. 21 at home vs Washington). simply wasn’t worth the risk.
Middleton was obviously battling something following the game against Atlanta on December 14 when he played 22 minutes off the bench in the Bucks’ semifinal victory. He had missed Monday’s practice and media availability due to an illness.
Despite having a right calf injury, Bucks all-star point guard Damian Lillard declared he was playing after Monday’s practice.
Due to his recuperation following offseason surgery on both ankles, Middleton missed the first 21 games of the Milwaukee season.
Five numbers
- 2: NBA Cup titles Bucks assistant coach Darvin Ham and player • 2: NBA Cup victories Taurean Prince, a player, and Darvin Ham, the assistant coach for the Bucks, have won.Prince said, “You gotta have a lot of things go your way obviously, but you put yourself in position with good teams it makes it — not easier — but that much more believable that it could be done.””We brought our secret weapon,” said Rivers. When I told TP that Darvin Ham had gone two years without losing in this Cup, he asked, “What about me?” Additionally, TP has never lost, which is great for them because, on the down side, it’s difficult; you get out of it and go back to work. It will be a difficult little stretch. We need to find a way to overcome this.
- 3: The Oklahoma City Thunder (Isaiah Hartenstein, Lu Dort, and head coach Mark Daigneault) were given technical fouls. With 9:12 remaining in the third quarter, Dort and Daigneault’s techs were back-to-back because they were not happy with the outcome of a jump ball that was called on a lost ball. Damian Lillard gave the Bucks a five-point lead and a 64-53 advantage after making both free throws and a three-pointer.Daigneault: “My point was made. I won’t go into too much detail. I got my point across. Those guys appeal to me. They performed admirably. The referees did not cause us to lose.
- 5.9: The Thunder’s percentage of three-pointers made in the first half (1-for-17).
- 14: The Thunder scored points in the third quarter despite only shooting 26%. They were also forced into six turnovers by the Bucks. Milwaukee led 77-64 going into the fourth quarter after scoring 26 points.Rivers: “We compete with one another. didn’t for me, but I believe one of the guys stated yesterday that the only thing they heard about was the opposing team’s defense. For the past two days, that is all they have heard. I believe that bothered men. I therefore assumed that was a contributing factor. You could see them; I believe our entire bench erupted when they made the final basket. They were furious. They had a strong desire to keep them to a minimum. That was excellent.Jalen Williams, a forward for the Thunder: “I thought we looked decent most of the time. As you mentioned, playing a talented team requires you to consistently create attractive plays and make shots, and I believe that was one of those nights. We played a decent defense, in my opinion. 97 points, how many did they have? I believed we were doing fairly well defensively. The chips fall where they fall, and sometimes you have to have the willpower to keep pushing the ball and doing the right thing. However, it simply didn’t shoot properly; it’s one of those things. Both I and others probably could have gotten some better images. That’s about it.
- 11/26: On this date, Pat Connaughton played 21 minutes against the Heat, recording 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks in a Bucks victory following Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury-related late substitution. It was his final rotation minutes in Miami. Connaughton was used by Bucks head coach Doc Rivers for extended periods against the Thunder because Khris Middleton was not available.Rivers: “You know, Pat Connaughton is a tremendous example for our squad. Pat Connaughton, who hadn’t played in a month, was selected to participate in this game today and did a fantastic job. He never stopped working, which was the nicest part. He continued to prepare daily, so there is also a message inside.Connaughton: “Look, I believe that occasionally people overlook the most crucial number, which is wins. I believe I have done that throughout my career, and it has allowed me to influence people in a variety of ways. When you discuss other statistics, it’s true that both you and I would like to play more and better, but you must realize that my ability to accomplish a lot of things on the basketball court is ultimately both a blessing and, I believe, a curse. You can’t really identify a single item that I do better than everyone else. But I’m incredibly good at a lot of things. You simply need to be able to influence winning, in my opinion.Beauchamp was drafted off the G League Ignite with the 24th pick of the first round in the 2022 draft, but has never quite found his footing under three head coaches in his three seasons. The Bucks opted not to pick up his fourth-year option in October, meaning the 24-year-old will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Does Giannis have a game?
Indeed. Since training camp, the MVP candidate has been dealing with tendinopathy, or soreness, in his right knee; yet, he has not missed a game due to the condition this season.
The Bucks game is on which channel?
Mike Breen, Doris Burke, Richard Jefferson, and Lisa Salters will be on the call for this national broadcast, which will begin at 7:40 CT on ABC.
Bucks starters
- Forwards: Taurean Prince, Giannis Antetokounmpo; Center: Brook Lopez; Guards: Damian Lillard, Andre Jackson Jr.
The Bucks’ injury report
Liam Robbins is doubtful due to a sprained left ankle, and Khris Middleton is absent due to a non-COVID sickness.
Availability of Giannis Antetokounmpo (right patella tendinopathy)
Daniel Lillard is available due to a bruise in his right calf.
More: AJ Johnson and Tyler Smith, two rookies for the Bucks, are having a great time at the Emirates NBA Cup
Two stars are missing from Oklahoma City.
There are no large males among the Thunder. Jaylin Williams (right hamstring strain) and Chet Holmgren (right iliac wing, or pelvis) both suffered fractures. The Thunder now only have 7-footer Isaiah Hartenstein as their “true” big man after the two had been out for a while.
Oklahoma City is 4.5 points ahead of Milwaukee in the Bucks vs. Thunder odds, and the over/under is 215.5 points, according to BetMGM.
