The Milwaukee Bucks are 2024 NBA Cup champions. The Bucks pulled away from the cold-shooting Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night time for a 97-81 win within the match’s title recreation at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Bucks star duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard led the best way, combining for 49 factors as Milwaukee capped off an ideal 7-0 run in NBA Cup play. Antetokounmpo, who had a triple-double within the championship recreation, was named the match’s MVP.
Bucks gamers earned the trophy and a profitable payday with the win. Milwaukee gamers will all obtain a bonus prize of $514,971 for successful the title. Thunder gamers, in the meantime, go house with $205,988 for his or her second-place end because the league upped the NBA Cup prize cash in 2024.
The Bucks led by one level at halftime and pulled away within the third quarter as they held the Thunder to simply 14 factors. The Thunder entered the championship matchup with the league’s finest protection and eighth-rated offense, however they struggled to shoot all night time. The Thunder hit solely 15.6% of their 3-point makes an attempt (5 of 32), they usually managed only one triple on 17 makes an attempt within the first half.
Antetokounmpo completed with a team-best 26 factors, 19 rebounds and 10 assists. Lillard added 23 factors and his 5 3-pointers had been as many because the Thunder hit as a crew. The Bucks have now received 11 of their final 13 video games, although the NBA Cup title recreation doesn’t depend towards the regular-season standings.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led OKC with 21 factors however wanted 24 field-goal makes an attempt to get there. The Thunder’s 14-point third quarter was their lowest-scoring interval of the season.
The Bucks be a part of the Lakers as groups with NBA Cup championships after L.A. received the inaugural occasion in 2023. Taurean Prince, who had six factors towards OKC, saved his good NBA Cup report intact with Milwaukee’s win. The Bucks ahead is now 14-0 in Cup play after going 7-0 with the Lakers within the in-season match final yr. Bucks assistant coach Darvin Ham, who was the Lakers head coach final season, additionally boasts an unbeaten NBA Cup mark.
All 30 NBA groups had been a part of the match’s group-stage spherical, which happened from Nov. 12-Dec. 3. Eight groups made the quarterfinals, and the NBA Cup shifted to Vegas for the semifinals on Saturday. The Bucks took down the Magic and Hawks within the knockout stage to achieve the title recreation. The Thunder ousted the Mavericks and Rockets within the eight-team bracket.
