NBA Cup final results, highlights

Players have bought into the ongoing NBA Cup.

“It was fun,” Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Obviously the additional stakes give the game a slightly different feel. It’s good preparation for the postseason. There’s obviously more at stake than in an 82-game regular season, and it’s good to get reps in games that mean a little more and have the stakes at stake. It was definitely fun and really beneficial to the group.”

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo said: “I love that the NBA has kind of adapted this system. In the regular season there are games that mean more, but when you come here you have two games that draw a lot of attention to basketball. NBA, to the teams, and teams have the opportunity to make an impact, because not necessarily The best NBA team will always win the Cup. It’s about who plays the best basketball in these knockout games and I love that.”

MORE:NBA unveils new format for 2025 All-Star Game with four teams

The NBA Cup, now in its second season, was a success on the court in 2024 as two hot teams (the Thunder and Bucks) and two MVP candidates (Gilgeous-Alexander and Antetokounmpo) on Tuesday night in Las Vegas played for the Cup title at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Now let’s see if the NBA Cup can capitalize on its success with fans in terms of TV ratings and interest.

Follow live updates from Tuesday’s showdown in Las Vegas:

The thunder stays out front

Isaiah Hartenstein (12 points), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (10 points) and Jalen Williams (eight points) combined for 30 points as the Thunder led the Bucks 41-37 with 6:15 left in the second quarter. Damian Lillard led the Bucks with 12 points. Milwaukee outscored Oklahoma City 21-3 on 3-pointers, but OKC is shooting 69.6% on shots from inside the 3-point line while Milwaukee is just 5 of 16 on 2-pointers.

End of first quarter: Thunder 28, Bucks 27

In a first quarter that featured six lead changes, the Thunder took a 28-27 lead after the first 12 minutes. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Hartenstein each had 10 points for the Thunder, and Gilgeous-Alexander also had two rebounds and two assists.

Strong 1-2 shooting from Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard combined for 13 of Milwaukee’s 27 points, and the Bucks went 5-for-9 from 3-point range and stayed close.

OKC shot 57.1% from the field in the first quarter (but just 1-for-6 on 3s), and Milwaukee was 9-for-20 from the field.

3-Ball works for Bucks

Although the Thunder are shooting 10-for-17 from the field, they are 0-for-4 on 3-pointers. Meanwhile, the Bucks are shooting 46.7% from the field, but have made four of their seven 3-pointers and are 3: With 25 to go in the first quarter, the lead was 22-20. Taurean Prince, Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis and Damian Lillard made 3s for Milwaukee.

Strong starts for Isaiah Hartenstein and Jalen Williams

Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, one of the bright offseason additions, had six points (3-for-3 shooting) and two rebounds in the first three minutes, and teammate Jalen Williams, who is seeking his first All-Star appearance , had four points, a rebound, an assist, a steal and a block as the Thunder took an early 16-9 lead, forcing Milwaukee to call a timeout with 7:30 left in the first quarter.

No Khris Middleton for Bucks

Milwaukee small forward Khris Middleton, who played his first game of the season on Dec. 6, is out with a non-COVID illness.

There are two MVP candidates in the NBA Cup Finals

Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo has won two MVPs. Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished second last season to Denver’s Nikola Jokic, who won his third MVP in four seasons.

They are among the leading candidates for 2024-25 MVP two months into the season, and Antetokounmpo’s Bucks play Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder in the NBA Cup Finals.

The Bucks are hot after a 2-8 start, having won 12 of their last 15 games, and Antetokounmpo leads the way. He is the NBA’s leading scorer with 32.7 points per game and averages 11.5 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.6 blocks while shooting 61.4%, which would be a career high if he maintains that percentage. If the Bucks continue to win and climb into the top four of the Eastern Conference by the end of the season (they currently sit in sixth place), Antetokounmpo will have good reasons to win his third MVP.

Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 30.3 points, 6.3 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals while shooting 51% from the field, 34% on threes and 86.4% on free throws – as the Thunder lead at 20 -5 at the top of the West. Only two players (Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic) are averaging at least 30 points, 6.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals this season. A 60-win season with those stats could give Gilgeous-Alexander his first MVP.

NBA Cup Final Predictions

Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY: Thunder 112, Dollars 100
Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY: Thunder 108, Bucks 101
James Williams, USA TODAY: Thunder 100, Bucks 98

Prize money in the NBA Cup

Here is the NBA Cup prize money for players in 2024:

Players from losing quarterfinal teams: $51,497
Players from losing semifinal teams: $102,994
Players on the losing team in the championship game: $205,988
Players on the winning team in the NBA Cup Championship Game: $514,970

Why has NBA Cup prize money increased?

The prize money increased because the players and the league agreed on this in the 2023 collective bargaining agreement regarding basketball revenue.

After the first season of the NBA Cup in 2023, according to the CBA, the prize money will increase “for each additional salary cap year”: (A) for each IST player on the team that wins the IST Finals game, an amount equal to of $500,000 multiplied by the “BRI Growth Factor” for that salary cap year (B) for each IST player on the team that loses the IST Finals game An amount equal to $200,000 multiplied by the BRI Growth Factor for such salary cap year (C) for each IST player on a team that loses an IST Semifinal Game, $100,000 multiplied by the BRI Growth Factor for such Salary cap year and (D) for each IST player on a team that plays an IST quarterfinal game loses, $50,000 multiplied by the BRI growth factor for such a salary cap year.”

What is the BRI Growth Factor? According to the CBA, “The BRI growth factor for a salary cap year is a fraction, the numerator of which is the BRI for the immediately preceding salary cap year and the denominator of which is the BRI for the salary cap year 2022-23; provided, However, the NBA and the Players Association may agree to reduce the BRI growth factor for one (1) or more salary cap years to a smaller fraction with a value of not less than one (1).”

To put it simply, the prize money increases by around 3% from season to season.

When is the NBA Cup Final?

The NBA Cup Finals begin Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. ET.

How to watch the NBA Cup Finals

The NBA Cup Finals take place on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. ET ABC and can be streamed on Fubo.

Where is the NBA Cup Finals taking place?

Tuesday’s final will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

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NBA Cup final results, highlights

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