Everybody has a fortunate quantity in Las Vegas. For the Milwaukee Bucks, it was three.
And the NBA Cup was their prize.
Match MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 26 factors to go together with 19 rebounds and 10 assists, Damian Lillard added 23 factors and the Bucks linked on 17 three-pointers on the way in which to beating the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder 97-81 within the NBA Cup title recreation Tuesday night time.
Brook Lopez and Gary Trent Jr every scored 13 for the Bucks, who joined the Los Angeles Lakers as the one champions of the two-year-old occasion. A 19-5 Milwaukee run within the second half turned what was a five-point recreation right into a 19-point recreation early within the fourth, and the Bucks saved management the remainder of the way in which.
“It’s nice, it’s nice for our crew,” Antetokounmpo stated. “We’re getting higher. … We all know we’re leaving Vegas as a greater crew. I’m so happy with this group. Man, I’m so happy with this group.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 and Jalen Williams added 18 for the Thunder, who had scored no less than 99 factors in each recreation this season. However they sputtered in loads of methods Tuesday, getting outscored 51-15 from past the arc and taking pictures solely 34%.
Isaiah Hartenstein had 16 factors and 12 rebounds for Oklahoma Metropolis, which was held to 31 factors after halftime.
“We did some good issues. We outscored them within the paint so clearly we did the job defensively on that finish,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated. “However clearly a tricky night time offensively all the way in which round for us. We didn’t rating practically sufficient factors, particularly within the second half, to provide ourselves an opportunity to win. However we will be taught from it, transfer ahead right here.”
It’s a recreation that solely counted for match functions. There was about $300,000 in further bonus cash for Bucks gamers – they obtained $514,971 apiece, whereas the Thunder gamers obtained $205,988 every – however the win, the loss and the statistics from the sport received’t rely towards the common season.
Mired towards the underside of the NBA after a 2-8 begin, the Bucks have been on a tear since. This was their thirteenth win of their final 16 video games, regardless that it received’t be a part of the official report.
Irrespective of: When the Bucks emptied their bench with 1:37 left, Antetokounmpo pumped his fists prefer it was a real championship second.
He’s received larger video games – he and the Bucks captured the 2021 NBA title, in any case. However they stated from the outset of this match that the NBA Cup was a precedence.
They usually left little question in the long run.
“We struggled popping out of the gates,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers stated. “Nobody right here doubted what we may be and who we may be and we simply hung in there. We caught collectively and that is the byproduct of a crew sticking collectively. However we nonetheless have work to do.”
Antetokounmpo was much more succinct: “Job’s not completed,” he stated.
His level was clear: There’s one other title to chase. However this was nonetheless a trophy second to have fun.
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