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NBA Cup championship: Bucks ride dominant defense, second half to lopsided win over Thunder
- After a triple-double tonight, the Greek Freak is an in-season tournament MVP, a regular season MVP, an All-Star Game MVP and an NBA Finals MVP. He and LeBron James are the only players who can say that.
- Important note: Darvin Ham was head coach for the Lakers’ undefeated run in the IST last year and is now an assistant coach on this Bucks team. He is 14-0 in NBA Cup play. A very specific legend in the making.
- After entering halftime up a single point, the Bucks demolish the Thunder to win the second NBA in-season tournament. Cue the confetti.
- Giannis departs to MVP chants and a 26-19-10 stat line, with Milwaukee leading by 19. He got my vote. Might he be up for collecting another one?
- Doc Rivers empties his bench as Antetokounmpo exits to chants of “MVP.” We’re done here.
- Nearly three minutes left and we’re still trending toward a comfortable Bucks win. They lead 94-77, with Giannis Antetokounmpo sitting at 26 points, 18 rebounds, nine assists, two steals and two blocks.
- Okay so… the stats in the game don’t count. The game doesn’t go in the standings. But what about techs and flagrant foul points?
- Bobby Portis just got called for a flagrant 1 for his elbow to Isaiah Joe. That’s two free throws and possession for OKC, the kind of swing the Thunder need if they have any hope of a rally, down 88-69.
- The wave has begun during this official’s review. Usually, lame and corny. Today? Not so terrible.
- Bobby Portis just nailed Isaiah Joe with an elbow that put Joe down. It could be worse. Nikola Mirotic felt those hands.
- Competitive game turning into a route unless OKC puts something together, quickly.
- The Bucks have seized control thanks to a 26-14 advantage in the third quarter. Can the Thunder mount a rally, or will the Bucks win the NBA Cup with a 7-0 record in Cup play?
- Make that 3-24 from 3 as SGA misses at the buzzer. 77-64, Bucks.
- The Thunder: a robust 3-23 from 3.
- Bucks jump on Thunder to start the third quarter. They’re just as feisty and a little bigger up front. 69-60.
- The Bucks are seizing control. Damian Lillard just had a 5-point possession to extend Milwaukee’s lead to 64-53. Lu Dort and Mark Daigneault were both issued technical fouls after a loose-ball scrum. Lillard hit both free throws then capped the possession with a 3-pointer off a jump ball for the largest Milwaukee lead of the night.
- 51-50 at halftime. It is entertaining and competitive. Just what the league wanted and probably needed.
- We’ve got a game worthy of a championship matchup. Milwaukee leads, 51-50 after a competitive first half. The Thunder are keeping it close despite a dreadful half from 3-point distance.
- Halftime leaders:
- BucksGiannis Antetokounmpo: 14 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 of 9 FGs
- Damian Lillard: 12 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 of 4 from 3
- ThunderShai Gilgeous-Alexander: 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assistsIsaiah Hartenstein: 14 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
- Jalen Williams: 11 points, 2 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal
- 3-point shootingBucks: 7 of 18 (38.9%)
- Thunder: 1 of 17 (5.9%
- Isaiah Hartenstein and Andre Jackson were issued offsetting technicals for their skirmish. No free throws, carry on. Each player is at risk of ejection with another technical.
