NBA Cup Championship: Bucks ride dominant defense, second half to lopsided win over Thunder

On By Littum

So much for that 1-6 start.

The Milwaukee Bucks are now your NBA Cup champions. The Bucks faced a Thunder team pegged by many as NBA title favorites and secured a one-sided 97-81 victory Tuesday night in the NBA Cup championship game in Las Vegas.

The win capped a 7-0 Bucks run in NBA Cup play that reaffirmed their standing as contenders in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee has now won 14 of 20 games since its slow start and improved to 14-11 to get back on the right side of the Eastern Conference standings.

Tuesday’s win does not count in the standings. But it sure means something in Milwaukee for a Bucks team that was written off as contenders early in the season.

The Bucks won Tuesday night thanks to physical play from Giannis Antetokounmpo, strong shooting from Damian Lillard and a dominant defense that stifled the Oklahoma City shooters. Lillard and Antetokounmpo played like their All-Star selves while the Thunder had one of their worst shooting nights of the season.

Oklahoma City shot 33.7% from the field and was terrible from long range on a 5-of-32 effort (15.6%) from beyond the arc. There will be better nights from this talented Thunder roster. But Tuesday belonged to the Bucks.

The first half was anything but a blowout. Oklahoma City opened up a 28-27 lead in the first quarter, which Milwaukee countered in the second quarter to take a 51-50 edge into halftime in what was shaping up to be a thriller.

But the Bucks opened the third quarter with back-to-back 3s from Taurean Prince and Lillard and never looked back.

The Bucks took control of the game with a 26-14 advantage in the third quarter and did not let off the gas in the fourth. As Milwaukee’s shooters rained down 3s, Oklahoma City’s shot after shot rattled off the iron. Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo took advantage whenever he found a mismatch in the post, which was often.

As the clock ticked down under two minutes, Bucks fans in Las Vegas celebrated. There was plenty of reason to celebrate on the Milwaukee bench, too. As winners of the NBA Cup, each Bucks player secured a bonus of about $515,000.

It wasn’t too bad for Thunder players, who secured about $216,000 each as runners-up. But the high-profile loss will certainly sting for a young team looking to assert itself as a contender.

Antetokounmpo led the way for Milwaukee with a 26-point, 19-rebound, 10-assist triple-double. He added three blocks and two steals while shooting 10 of 19 from the field. Lillard had 23 points, four rebounds and four assists while shooting 5 of 10 from 3-point range.

The NBA’s third-best 3-point shooting team (38.9%), the Bucks were strong from beyond the arc as a whole at 17-of-40 (42.5%) from long range. Milwaukee secured a 43-36 advantage on the boards and assisted on 25 of its 34 field goals made.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the leading scorer for Oklahoma City with 21 points, four rebounds and two assists. But he shot 8 of 24 from the floor and 2 of 9 from 3 in an effort that summed up the Thunder’s shooting night.

Isaiah Hartenstein was the only Thunder player to shoot 50% or better from the field on a 6-of-11 effort that produced 16 points and 12 rebounds. Jalen Williams shot 8 of 20 on his way to 18 points.

It was a dominant effort on both sides of the ball for the Bucks — the kind to renew championship hopes that looked lost in the first month of the season.

Live39 updates

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  • Doc Rivers empties his bench as Antetokounmpo walks out to chants of “MVP.” We’re done here.

  • Almost three minutes to go and we’re still heading for a comfortable Bucks win. They lead 94-77, with Giannis Antetokounmpo sitting on 26 points, 18 rebounds, nine assists, two steals and two blocks.

  • Okay so… the in-game stats don’t count. The game is not ranked. But what about technologies and obvious points of failure?

  • Bobby Portis just got called for a flagrant 1 for his elbow to Isaiah Joe. It’s two free throws and possession for OKC, the kind of swing the Thunder need if they have any hope of a rally, down 88-69.

  • The wave has begun during this official’s review. Usually lame and corny. Today? Not so terrible.

  • Bobby Portis just hit Isaiah Joe with an elbow that put Joe down. It could be worse. Nikola Mirotic felt those hands.

  • Contest games that turn into a rout unless OKC puts something together, fast.

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  • Make it 3-24 from 3 as SGA misses at the buzzer. 77-64, Bucks.

  • The Thunder: a robust 3-23 from 3.

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  • Lady with a 5-point possession

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  • 51-50 at the break. It is entertaining and competitive. Just what the league wanted and likely needed.

  • Halftime: Bucks 51, Thunder 50

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    Half-time leaders:

    Bucks
    Giannis Antetokounmpo: 14 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 of 9 FGs
    Damian Lillard: 12 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 of 4 from 3

    Thunder
    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
    Isaiah Hartenstein: 14 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
    Jalen Williams: 11 points, 2 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal

    3-point shooting
    Pants: 7 of 18 (38.9%)
    Thunder: 1 of 17 (5.9%

  • Isaiah Hartenstein and Andre Jackson were issued equalizing technicals for their skirmish. No free throws, go ahead. Each player risks being ejected with a different technician.