Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are headed to the NBA Cup championship game. The Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder are now figuring out who will join them.
In the Western side of the bracket, the Thunder overcame the Dallas Mavericks and Luka Dončić in a 14-point win on Tuesday, while the Rockets won a controversial matchup against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday that saw Steve Kerr calling out the refs after a one-point loss. It is a matchup of two of the NBA’s youngest teams, and should be a good one in Las Vegas.
Giannis Antetokounmpo overwhelmed the Hawks
The Bucks beat Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks 110-102 in the semifinals of the 2024 NBA Cup on Saturday afternoon at T-Mobile Arena. That officially put them into the title game, where they’ll take on either the Oklahoma City Thunder or Houston Rockets on Tuesday night.
Antetokounmpo finished just shy of a triple-double with 32 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists in the win. He shot 10-of-15 from the field, too. Damian Lillard wasn’t far behind with 25 points, seven assists and six rebounds, though he went just 5-of-14 from behind the arc.
Young did everything possible to keep the Hawks in it in the third quarter after a tight opening half in Las Vegas. He shot 6-of-7 from the field in the period and put the Hawks in the lead entering the final period.
Finally, though, Antetokounmpo and the Bucks surged ahead down the stretch. They mounted a quick 7-1 run late in the fourth quarter, powered by three short buckets from Antetokounmpo, to finally separate from the Hawks. Antetokounmpo sealed the deal in the final minutes, too, with a wild block on Clint Capela at the rim to break up an alley-oop.
Young led the Hawks with a near-triple-double of his own. He finished with 35 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds for Atlanta, which dropped to 14-13 on the season with the loss. Jalen Johnson finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and De’Andre Hunter added 15 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
Which team will join the Bucks and make it to Tuesday’s NBA Cup championship game?
How to watch NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas
Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more below:
Live37 updates
The game is not for the faint of heart. Competitive but not high on aesthetics.
Well, we’re off to a slow start. Both teams have shot a combined 3-of-17 and 2-of-8 from the field to start this one.
The Rockets lead 6-5 early.
The Rockets have won the tip, and we’re off in Las Vegas. The Thunder have won eight of their last nine games heading into this one.
The winner will get the Bucks on Tuesday night with the NBA Cup on the line.
This is the perfect pre-game entertainment now that these two shows can crossover.
Starting lineups for Rockets-Thunder
Rockets
Dillon Brooks
Jabari Smith Jr.
Alperen Şengün
Jalen Green
Fred VanVleet
Thunder
Lu Dort
Jalen Williams
Isaiah Hartenstein
Cason Wallace
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Up next: Thunder-Rockets
Oklahoma City and Houston will square off in the second semifinals game in about 90 minutes or so. The winner will take on the Bucks for the NBA Cup on Tuesday.
The Bucks are officially headed to the championship game on Tuesday, where they’ll take on either the Thunder or the Rockets in Vegas.
If all else fails, ask Giannis to do every damn thing.
WHAT A BLOCK FROM GIANNIS AT THE RIM
The Bucks finally have a little bit of separation here. They’re up 103-97 now with 3:01 left in the game.
If all else fails, give it to Giannis…
We’ve got a close one here down the stretch. The Bucks are up by one now at the midway point of the fourth quarter.
This foul merchant stuff has to stop. It’s one of the things that makes a game ugly. Nobody wants to see this.
This is about as competitive a game as the NBA could’ve hoped for. A one-point game to start the fourth.
End of 3: Hawks 83, Bucks 82
Trae Young went off in the third quarter, and helped the Hawks take their first lead since the opening sequence of the second period. He’s up to 26 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds now.
We’re in for a good finish here in Vegas. End of 3: Hawks 83, Bucks 82
It’s amazing, Trae Young has had a horrible shooting season, the worst of his career, but is torching everything tonight. He’s 7-of-12, 3-of-4 from 3. 26-8-7 now in the third quarter trying to keep the Hawks in it.
Clint Capela just completely stuffed Giannis and then finished at the other end. The Hawks, though, still trail 70-64 midway through the third quarter.
In attendance: Not particularly long or imposing but he packs a punch: Floyd Mayweather
