Want to decide Hawks vs Bucks, Thunder vs Rockets?

On By Littum

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Put a prize, big or small, in front of some of the world’s most competitive athletes, and they want to win it.

The NBA suspected that when it created the NBA Cup, and that has been the case for the event now in its second year. Players want to win this event and it shows in the competitiveness of the games.

The NBA Cup semi-finals are also on Saturday Atlanta Hawks player Milwaukee Bucks (4:30 p.m. ET, TNT) and Oklahoma City Thunder player Houston Rockets (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The winners play in the final on Tuesday (8.30pm, ABC).

The East features a matchup of two teams that have begun to turn their seasons around after rough starts, and the West features two of the league’s best teams, both young and poised for sustained success.

Here’s what you need to know about the NBA Cup semifinals:

What’s at stake for the Bucks, Hawks, Thunder, Rockets in the NBA Cup?

Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks reached the semifinals by winning the East’s Group C with wins against Cleveland and Boston — the top two teams in the East — and then beating New York in the quarterfinals. Their success in the bowl game has revived a season that opened 4-7. They are 10-5 since, including seven wins in their last eight games, and have moved into seventh place in the East, just 1½ games behind the fourth-place Knicks. That success coincides with Bogdan Bogdanovic’s return from injury. Eight players score at least 10 points per game led by Trae Young (21 ppg, 12.2 assists per game), Jalen Johnson (19.8 ppg, 10.1 rebounds per game) and De’Andre Hunter (19.6 ppg). Johnson is a new star with rookie Zaccharie Risacher (11.2 ppg) and Dyson Daniels (13.5 ppg, 3.0 spg) is delivering what the Hawks expected when they traded Dejounte Murray for him in the offseason.

Milwaukee Bucks

A month ago, the Bucks were 2-8. They are now 13-11 with nine wins in their last 11 games. Khris Middleton’s recent return has helped, and the Giannis Antetokounmpo-Damian Lillard combo is flourishing. Antetokounmpo (32.7 ppg) and Lillard (25.8 ppg) are the top scoring duo in the NBA. Lillard has found a good rhythm offensively, and the Bucks are building depth beyond Bobby Portis Jr. (13.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg) and Brook Lopez (11 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.1 bpg) with Gary Trent Jr. (9.3 ppg), AJ Green (8.0 ppg) and Taurean Prince (7.9 ppg).

Oklahoma City Thunder

Even with Chet Holmgren out with an injury, the Thunder are winning — thanks to a deep and talented roster led by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (30.2 ppg, 6.3 apg, 5.4 rpg) and Jalen Williams (21, 8 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 5. apg). Last season, the Thunder won 57 games and were perhaps a year ahead of schedule when they lost to Dallas in the West semifinals. But there’s no question the Thunder were headed for success, and they’re trying to capitalize on those expectations this season. Playing in a big game is important for the Thunder, who sit atop the West at 19-5. Isaiah Hartenstein, Lu Dort, Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, Alex Caruso, Ajay Mitchell add to a versatile rotation. The Thunder are no. 8 offensively, no. 1 defensively and no. 1 in net rating with plus-12 points per 100 possessions.

Houston Rockets

Rockets general manager Rafael Stone deserves credit for putting together this roster — a mix of veterans and young players, and the young players (most of them 23 and under) are talented enough to make the 17-8 Rockets a contender. Jalen Green (19.2 ppg, 1.2 rpg) is 22 years old, Alperen Sengun (18.8 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 5.3 apg) is 22, Jabari Smith (11.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg) is 21, Amen Thompg . 1.1 spg) is 21 and Tari Eason (11.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg) is 23. Reed Sheppard, the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft, is 20. The Rockets are no. 2 defensively and no. 15 offensively and no. 5 in net assessment. Veterans Dillon Brooks, Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams are perfect for one of the league’s most enviable rosters.

How to watch the NBA Cup Semifinals: Times, TV info

Saturday 14 Dec

Atlanta Hawks vs. Milwaukee Bucks4:30 p.m. ET, TNT

Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder8:30 p.m. ET, ABC

NBA Cup Semifinals Odds, Money Line, Over/Under

Odds courtesy of BetMGM:

Atlanta-Milwaukee

  • Spread: Bucks (-3.5)
  • Moneyline: Hawks (+140); Pants (-165)
  • Over/under: 228.5

Houston-Oklahoma City

  • Spread: Thunder (-5.5)
  • Moneyline: Rockets (+185); Thunder (-225)
  • Over/under: 212.5

What is the financial prize pool for the NBA Cup?

Players on losing quarterfinal team: $51,497

Players on losing semifinal team: $102,994

Players on losing teams in championship game: $205,988

Players on the winning team in the NBA Cup championship game: $514,970

The prize money increased because the players and the league agreed to it in the 2023 collective bargaining agreement as long as basketball-related revenue grows.

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