The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 97-81 to win the 2024 NBA Cup in Las Vegas. The Bucks went a perfect 7-0 in NBA Cup play and have now won 14 of their last 20 games after starting the season with a 2-8 record. While this NBA Cup victory won’t count in the regular season standings, it provides the Bucks with a boost of confidence as they continue the season, especially after being written off as title contenders early on.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was named NBA Cup MVP after a dominant 26-point performance, adding 19 rebounds and 10 assists. Damian Lillard also had a strong shooting night, and the Bucks played strong defense, shutting down Oklahoma City’s offense. The key difference in the game was three-point shooting, with the Bucks hitting 17 of 40 (42.5%) from beyond the arc, while the Thunder struggled, making just 5 of 32 (15.6%). The game remained close until halftime, but the Bucks took control with a 26-14 advantage in the third quarter and maintained their lead until the end of the game.
Each Bucks player will receive a $515,000 bonus for winning the NBA Cup, while Thunder players will earn $216,000 each as runners-up.
GIANNIS, BUCKS WIN THE #EmiratesNBACup 🏆
— NBA (@NBA) December 18, 2024
🔥 26 PTS
🔥 19 REB
🔥 10 AST
🔥 3 BLK
🔥 2 STL
The Greek Freak put on a SHOW in Vegas! pic.twitter.com/tHDReTvS25
