The Hawks and Bucks go head-to-head in Saturday’s elimination showdown as they fight for a spot in the Emirates NBA Cup Championship game.

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Milwaukee and Atlanta travel to Las Vegas for the showdown this Saturday, December 14th (4:30 p.m. ET, TNT) The winner plays for the honor of becoming Emirates NBA Cup Champion.

Atlanta’s road to Las Vegas was impressive, securing victories in group play over two elite Eastern Conference teams – the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the quarterfinals, they went to Madison Square Garden and outscored the Knicks with a dominant third quarter performance that led to a 108-100 victory.

It’s that #EmiratesNBACup Semifinals, LIVE FROM VEGAS 🍿🎰

🏆 PPG and APG leaders Giannis (32.7 PPG) and Trae (12.2 APG) lead Hawks vs. Bucks
🏆 The two best teams in the West and the two best defenses in the NBA meet in Rockets vs. Thunder

The Knockout Rounds continue TODAY with the semi-finals… pic.twitter.com/5O4BhmzSRH

– NBA (@NBA) December 14, 2024

As for the Bucks, they remain undefeated in the NBA Cup, going 4-0 in the group stage, including three double-digit wins, before defeating Orlando 114-109 in the quarterfinals.

It’s no surprise that both teams are on an upward trajectory. The Bucks are 11-3 after starting 2-8, while the Hawks, who were 4-7 entering group play, moved to 10-5 with a win over the Celtics on Nov. 12. ushered in the route. That streak also included two consecutive wins over Cleveland and a decisive 119-104 victory over their Saturday opponent, the Bucks.

Atlanta’s turnaround was fueled by improved defense, allowing Atlanta to rank among the top 10 defensive teams in the last 15 games, compared to 18th overall. They also dominated the boards, with only the Rockets averaging more rebounds per game during that time. On the other hand, Milwaukee’s resurgence has been fueled by offense, particularly Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo. This duo has sparked a dynamic that continues to drive the team’s success.

When these teams face off on Saturday, all eyes will be on Trae Young and the Bucks’ powerhouse duo. Young leads the league with 12.2 assists per game, two more than second-place Nikola Jokić. His improvement comes from taking fewer shots and prioritizing creating opportunities for his teammates. The biggest beneficiaries of his approach so far have been Jalen Johnson and De’Andre Hunter, both of whom are putting up career-best numbers. Hunter, in particular, stands out with a career-high 19.6 points per game – a four-point increase – while shooting 44.6% from 3-point range on a career-high 6.1 attempts per game. If Young maintains his playmaking focus alongside Atlanta’s defensive and rebounding improvements, the Hawks will be tough to beat.

The Bucks will lean heavily on Antetokounmpo and Lillard to power their offense. Milwaukee is at its best when it gets strong performances from its supporting staff. Bobby Portis has been red hot in his last two games, scoring 45 points and shooting 18 of 21 from the field. Taurean Prince and AJ Green could also play key roles off the bench. If Antetokounmpo and Lillard get Atlanta’s defensive attention and set up their snipers, Prince and Green could make game-winning shots.

The way this matchup looks, it should be everyone’s game as these two teams take the floor in Las Vegas and fight for promotion to the Emirates NBA Cup Championship.