NBA roundup: Bucks and Thunder defeat Magic and Mavericks respectively to advance in NBA Cup
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks narrowly defeated the resilient Orlando Magic, 114-109, on Tuesday, securing a spot in the NBA Cup semi-finals.
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder comfortably overcame the Dallas Mavericks.
Antetokounmpo delivered an impressive performance, scoring 37 points, along with seven rebounds and four blocked shots. This victory marks the Bucks' consecutive advancement to the semi-finals of the in-season tournament, where they will compete against either the New York Knicks or the Atlanta Hawks for a chance to reach the final.
Damian Lillard contributed significantly, scoring 15 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and providing nine assists. Despite the absence of key players Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner due to injuries, the Magic put up a strong fight against the Bucks.
Lillard's dunk gave the Bucks a 108-107 lead with just 32.6 seconds left on the clock. Following a missed three-pointer by Orlando's Jalen Suggs, Lillard converted two free throws, extending the Bucks' lead to three points with 9.1 seconds remaining. In the closing moments, both Antetokounmpo and Lillard added two free throws each to secure the hard-earned victory.
"We fought for this one," Lillard remarked, emphasizing the Bucks' determination to improve upon their previous performance in last year's inaugural event as they prepare for the final stage in Las Vegas. "We didn't have the greatest experience there last year, so I think all of us are thinking about going back and finishing what we started last year and doing it right this time."
Jalen Suggs had a standout game for the Magic, scoring a career-high 32 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Orlando began the game aggressively, establishing a 33-25 lead after the first quarter, with Suggs contributing three of the team's seven steals during that period, which disrupted the Bucks' rhythm.
Milwaukee managed to regain control, leading 60-59 at halftime after Lillard assisted Antetokounmpo for an alley-oop dunk, concluding a 7-0 run for the Bucks. The third quarter saw four lead changes, but the Bucks entered the final period with an 80-72 advantage, ultimately securing the win after exchanging leads multiple times.
In Oklahoma City, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder transformed the highly anticipated clash between two of the league's most formidable teams into a decisive victory, defeating the Mavericks 118-104 and halting their seven-game winning streak.
Gilgeous-Alexander delivered an impressive performance, scoring 39 points while contributing eight rebounds and five assists. Jalen Williams added 18 points, and center Isaiah Hartenstein recorded a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds for the Thunder, who successfully converted 20 of their 50 attempts from beyond the arc.
This victory marked Oklahoma City's eighth win in their last nine games, positioning them to face either the Houston Rockets or the Golden State Warriors for a chance to advance to the finals.
The Thunder's top-ranked defense proved overwhelming for the Mavericks. Klay Thompson led Dallas with 19 points, Kyrie Irving contributed 17, and Luka Doncic, who had recently achieved back-to-back triple-doubles, was limited to just two points in the first half, finishing the game with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Oklahoma City capitalized on 19 turnovers committed by the Mavericks, converting them into 36 points, and also won the rebounding contest 52-44.
The quarter-finals will conclude on Wednesday, with the Knicks hosting the Hawks and the Rockets facing the Warriors.
Following this, the action will move to Las Vegas for the semi-finals on Saturday, culminating in the final on December 17.
With the prospect of Las Vegas on the horizon, Gilgeous-Alexander remarked that the matchup against a Mavericks team that eliminated them in last year's playoffs carried "a little bit of a playoff feel, a little bit more at stake than just a regular-season game."
"I take pride in our team and the effort of my teammates," he stated. "We rose to the occasion."
SportsLigue