LAS VEGAS — While claiming the NBA Cup will not end with a triumphant parade for the teams from Oklahoma City, Houston, Atlanta, or Milwaukee, the tournament offers the winning team a trophy, some prize money, and a chance to relish bragging rights. For the four teams that have made it to the semifinals, this is quite satisfactory.
The semifinal matchups in the NBA Cup are set for Saturday, featuring Atlanta squaring off against Milwaukee, while Houston will clash with Oklahoma City. Both games will take place in Las Vegas, culminating with the championship game on Tuesday evening.
Thunder player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander expressed the significance of this opportunity, stating, “As a kid, you grow up, you watch Lakers versus Boston on TV. You watch Miami versus Cleveland. You watch marquee matchups and big games, and you dream about getting there one day. To be in this position is special. You don’t take it for granted.” It will be a unique experience for many players involved; only nine players from the Hawks, Thunder, Bucks, and Rockets have prior NBA Finals experience.
Hawks head coach Quin Snyder highlighted the importance of this tournament in shaping his team’s identity, noting, “We’re a group that’s trying to develop an identity. Having some success can help that.” The final four teams are not an unexpected selection; for instance, Oklahoma City previously held the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference during last season’s playoffs, and they would currently be positioned the same way if the season had ended on Friday, with Houston close behind. Meanwhile, the Bucks and Hawks are riding high, with Milwaukee winning 11 of their last 14 games and Atlanta taking seven of their last eight.
Rockets coach Ime Udoka remarked on the significance of the NBA Cup for his young roster, stating, “For a lot of guys that haven’t tasted the playoffs yet, it’s the closest thing to that in terms of intensity and physicality and having something on the line. Meaningful basketball is really good for our young guys. They haven’t had a lot of those games.”
The Bucks bring experience with players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, who have reached and won the NBA Finals. However, simply arriving in Las Vegas is a considerable achievement for Milwaukee, especially after a rocky start to the season at 2-8. Damian Lillard, a guard for the Bucks, commented, “It’s just a lot on the line. It requires you to focus. You’ve got to come and get the job done. So, I think in that way it’s similar to a playoff experience, just that you’ve got to get the job done.”
This event also serves as a spotlight for teams from smaller markets, as none of the traditional powerhouses from Boston, New York, or Los Angeles are present in this final four. Gilgeous-Alexander encapsulated the sentiment by asserting, “At the end of the day, you just want to win. But it’s pretty sweet to be highlighted and showcased in a way. Yeah, it’s what dreams are all about, and for them to come true is special.”
**Semifinal Matchups**
– **Atlanta vs. Milwaukee**, Saturday, 4:30 p.m. EST (TNT)
Season series: Hawks lead 1-0.
BetMGM line: Bucks favored by 3.5 points.
Outlook: Both squads are demonstrating their finest play this season, but Milwaukee has an edge due to their previous experience in the NBA Cup semifinals last year.
– **Houston vs. Oklahoma City**, Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EST (ABC)
Season series: Split 1-1.
Outlook: The Rockets pulled off a thrilling late-game comeback against Golden State in the quarterfinals, while the Thunder have gone 4-0 since their last loss to Houston on December 1, with an impressive average victory margin of 22.3 points.