NBA Cup Final: Lillard, Antetokounmpo Star For Bucks As They Become Inaugural Champs

Tournament MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 26 points to go along with 19 rebounds and 10 assists, Damian Lillard added 23 points and the Bucks connected on 17 3-pointers on the way to beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 97-81 in the NBA Cup title game on Tuesday night. Brook Lopez and Gary Trent Jr. each scored 13 for the Bucks, who joined the Los Angeles Lakers as the only champions of the 2-year-old event. A 19-5 Milwaukee run in the second half turned what was a five-point game into a 19-point game early in the fourth, and the Bucks kept control the rest of the way. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 and Jalen Williams added 18 for the Thunder, who had scored at least 99 points in every game this season. But they sputtered in plenty of ways Tuesday, getting outscored 51-15 from beyond the arc and shooting only 34%. Isaiah Hartenstein had 16 points and 12 rebounds for Oklahoma City, which was held to 31 points after halftime.

Photo Webdesk

Updated on: 19 December 2024 12:29 pm

NBA Cup final Milwaukee Bucks vs Oklahoma City Thunder Basketball game photos: Damian Lillard

NBA Cup Final: Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) lifts up the NBA Cup | Photo: AP/Ian Maule

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) lifts up the NBA Cup while forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34), left, and center Brook Lopez (11), right, celebrate after their team's victory in the championship game of the NBA Cup basketball tournament against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Las Vegas.

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NBA Cup final Milwaukee Bucks vs Oklahoma City Thunder Basketball game photos: Giannis Antetokounmpo

NBA Cup Final: Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) bites his NBA Cup medal | Photo: AP/Ian Maule

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) bites his NBA Cup medal after his team's victory in the championship game of the NBA Cup basketball tournament against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Las Vegas.

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NBA Cup Final: Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) contest for a rebound | Photo: AP/Ian Maule

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) contest for a rebound during the second half of the championship game in the NBA Cup basketball tournament in Las Vegas.

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NBA Cup final Milwaukee Bucks vs Oklahoma City Thunder Basketball game photos:

NBA Cup Final: Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) and Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) contest for a rebound | Photo: AP/Ian Maule

Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) and Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) contest for a rebound during the second half of the championship game in the NBA Cup basketball tournament in Las Vegas.

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NBA Cup Final: Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) passes between Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) and center Isaiah Hartenstein | Photo: AP/Ian Maule

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) passes between Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) and center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) during the second half of the championship game in the NBA Cup basketball tournament in Las Vegas.

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NBA Cup Final: Thunder forward Kenrich Williams (34) and Bucks guard Pat Connaughton (24) contest for a rebound | Photo: AP/Ian Maule

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kenrich Williams (34) and Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton (24) contest for a rebound during the second half of the championship game in the NBA Cup basketball tournament in Las Vegas.

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NBA Cup final Milwaukee Bucks vs Oklahoma City Thunder Basketball game photos: Kenrich Williams

NBA Cup Final: Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives against Thunder forward Kenrich Williams | Photo: AP/Ian Maule

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kenrich Williams (34) during the second half of the championship game in the NBA Cup basketball tournament in Las Vegas.

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NBA Cup Final: Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives against Oklahoma City Thunder guards | Photo: AP/Ian Maule

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives against Oklahoma City Thunder guards Alex Caruso (9) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the second half of the championship game in the NBA Cup basketball tournament in Las Vegas.

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NBA Cup final Milwaukee Bucks vs Oklahoma City Thunder Basketball photos: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

NBA Cup Final: Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) reacts after a missed shot | Photo: AP/Ian Maule

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) reacts after a missed shot during the second half of the championship game against the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Cup basketball tournament in Las Vegas.

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NBA Cup Final: Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots | Photo: AP/Ian Maule

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots over Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton (24) during the second half of the championship game in the NBA Cup basketball tournament in Las Vegas.