Emirates NBA Cup Semi Final Preview: Hawks vs. Bucks

On By Littum

The Hawks and Bucks go head-to-head in Saturday’s elimination showdown, fighting for a spot in the Emirates NBA Cup Championship game.

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Milwaukee and Atlanta head to Las Vegas for a showdown on Saturday, December 14 (4:30 p.m. ET, TNT) with the winner set to play for the honor of being the Emirates NBA Cup Champion.

Atlanta’s road to Las Vegas has been impressive, securing victories over two elite teams in the Eastern Conference – the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers during group stage. In the quarterfinals, they entered Madison Square Garden and topped the Knicks with a dominant third quarter performance that secured a 108–100 victory.

As for the Bucks, they remain undefeated in NBA Cup play at 4-0 in group stage play, including three double-digit wins before beating Orlando 114-109 in the quarterfinals.

It’s no surprise that both of these teams are on an upward trajectory. The Bucks have posted an 11-3 record after starting 2-8, while the Hawks, who were 4-7 when Group Play began, ignited a 10-5 stretch with a win over the Celtics on Nov. 12. That streak also included back-to-back wins over Cleveland and a decisive 119-104 victory over their Saturday opponent, the Bucks.

Atlanta’s turnaround has been fueled by an improved defense that ranks as a top 10 defensive team over their last 15 games compared to 18th overall. They have also dominated the boards, with only the Rockets averaging more rebounds per game. match during that stretch. On the other hand, Milwaukee’s resurgence has been fueled by offense, specifically from Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo. This duo has sparked momentum that continues to fuel the team’s success.

When these teams kick off Saturday, all eyes will be on Trae Young and the Bucks’ power duo. Young leads the league with 12.2 assists per game, two more than second-place Nikola Jokić. His rise stems from taking fewer shots and prioritizing creating opportunities for teammates. The biggest beneficiaries of his approach so far have been Jalen Johnson and De’Andre Hunter, both of whom are having the best careers. Hunter stands out in particular with a career high of 19.6 points per game. game – a four-point increase – while shooting 44.6% from 3-point range on a career-high 6.1 attempts per match. If Young maintains his playmaking focus along with Atlanta’s defensive and rebounding improvements, the Hawks will be tough to beat.

The Bucks will lean heavily on Antetokounmpo and Lillard to fuel their offense. Milwaukee is at its best when it gets clutch performances from its supporting cast. Bobby Portis has been red hot in his last two games, scoring 45 points and shooting 18-for-21 from the field. Taurean Prince and AJ Green could also play key roles off the bench. If Antetokounmpo and Lillard draw Atlanta’s defensive attention and set up their sharpshooters, Prince and Green might deliver game-changing shots.

With the way this matchup plays out, it should be anyone’s game when these two teams take the floor in Las Vegas for the opportunity to advance to the Emirates NBA Cup Championship.