Milwaukee and Oklahoma City will face off for the NBA Cup title this Tuesday in Las Vegas. This matchup will mark a significant moment in their season, though it will not affect their overall standings, as this game is one of 83 played this season. The statistics recorded during this game will only reflect the outcome itself.
In the semifinals held on Saturday, Milwaukee advanced by defeating Atlanta, largely thanks to a stellar performance by Giannis Antetokounmpo. Simultaneously, Oklahoma City overcame Houston in a match characterized by strong defensive play.
For those looking to catch the action, the game is set to begin at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time and will air live on ABC. Notably, this game will only be available on national television; local broadcasts for the Bucks and the Thunder will not cover it.
When it comes to betting odds, Oklahoma City is currently favored to win the title with a line of -190 at BetMGM Sportsbook, while Milwaukee’s odds stand at +155. The Thunder are expected to win by a margin of 4.5 points.
In the quarterfinals, Milwaukee achieved a narrow 114-109 victory over Orlando, fueled by Giannis’s impressive 37 points. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City comfortably beat Dallas with a score of 118-104, powered by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 39 points, more than any two players from the Mavericks combined. Other notable quarterfinal games included Atlanta’s 108-100 win over New York and Houston’s narrow 91-90 victory against Golden State, where Alperen Sengun contributed 26 points and led a vital scoring streak at the end.
Looking at the group standings, here is a recap:
– **East Group A**: New York (4-0), Orlando (3-1), Philadelphia (2-2), Brooklyn (1-3), Charlotte (0-4).
– **East Group B**: Milwaukee (4-0), Detroit (3-1), Miami (2-2), Toronto (1-3), Indiana (0-4).
– **East Group C**: Atlanta (3-1), Boston (3-1), Cleveland (2-2), Chicago (2-2), Washington (0-4).
– **West Group A**: Houston (3-1), Los Angeles Clippers (2-2), Minnesota (2-2), Portland (2-2), Sacramento (1-3).
– **West Group B**: Oklahoma City (3-1), Phoenix (3-1), Los Angeles Lakers (2-2), San Antonio (2-2), Utah (0-4).
– **West Group C**: Golden State (3-1), Dallas (3-1), Denver (2-2), Memphis (1-3), New Orleans (1-3).
The NBA Cup has already seen extraordinary individual scoring as well. Standout performances include De’Aaron Fox scoring 60 points against Minnesota and Cam Thomas with 43 against New York. Tyler Herro and Anthony Davis each recorded 40 points in their respective games. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also added his name to the list of high scorers with 39 points against Dallas.
Furthermore, this season has surpassed the previous one in triple-double achievements with 12 recorded so far compared to four in the last NBA Cup. Players like Alperen Sengun and Josh Hart have led with two each this season, while several others, including famous names like LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo, have also made contributions.
As for what’s at stake in Tuesday’s championship game, the winning team will receive not only a trophy but also a substantial cash prize. Each player from the finalists has already secured $205,988, while those who reached the semifinals earned $102,994. Players from the eliminated quarterfinals received $51,497 each. The champions will receive an additional $308,983 for their victory, whereas the runners-up will leave empty-handed.