How about that intense and nail-biting performance in the NBA Cup 2024 semifinals? Did it leave you on the edge of your seat? The Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets fans must have been on an emotional rollercoaster. Their teams were close to clinching the final spot. Still, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Milwaukee Bucks’ dominant performance shattered their dreams and secured the final spot in the Emirates NBA Cup 2024 Championship. Now we know who is going to take up the battle in the NBA Cup 2024 final, so Basketball fans from every corner of the globe get ready for the epic battle between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Milwaukee Bucks on December 17, 2024, at T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas, NV). Every move, every strategy, and every decision on the court is crucial to decide who will hold their first NBA Cup 2024 Championship and become the second edition of the NBA Cup champion.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional American basketball team, and in the NBA, they are in the North West division of the Western Conference. They were founded in 1967 as the Seattle SuperSonics, and on July 3, 2008, they relocated from Seattle to Oklahoma City. During their first NBA Cup 2023 campaign, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Kings, Timberwolves, Warriors, and Spurs were placed in the West Group C division. Compared to this season’s performance, the prior NBA Cup was quite disappointing for the Thunder, where they kick-started the campaign with a defeat against the Golden State Warriors with a score of 139-141. Despite their strong performance in the second and third quarters, they could not grab the triumph. In the second group stage match, they faced another defeat over the Kings by six points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder with 33 points, five assists, and seven rebounds.
Still, the dominant performance from the first quarter gave them an early advantage and ended up in another defeat for the Oklahoma City Thunder. In the third game, they bounced back from their past two defeats by marking their first NBA Cup 2023 victory against the Spurs with a score of 123-87. Once again, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s strong performance for the team made them secure their first victory of the NBA Cup 2023 season. However, their final group stage game with the Timberwolves ended in a narrow margin defeat, placed them fourth in their division, and missed the opportunity to play for the championship. But this NBA Cup 2024 season, they showed a phenomenal performance, which made them conclude the group stage with a record of three wins and one loss of 45 points difference. This shows their determination and resilience, scrutinizing their gameplay, using this season wisely, and reaching this final spot.
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional American basketball team based in Milwaukee. They are members of the National Basketball Association (NBA), Central Division, and Eastern Conference. The team was founded in 1968 and won two league championships in 1971 and 2021. It also won three conference titles (Western: 1971, 1974; Eastern: 2021) and 19 division titles (1971–1974, 1976, 1980–1986, 2001, 2019–2024). In the first edition of the NBA Cup 2023, they are placed in the East Group B division along with the New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Hornets, and Wizards. With their consistent gameplay, they were undefeated by winning all four group stage games against their group mates. With this impressive performance, they qualified for the quarterfinals and faced the New York Knicks on December 6, 2023.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks with 35 points, ten assists, and eight rebounds, and Damian Lillard added 28 points, seven assists, and three rebounds. Overall, the team’s outstanding efforts with balanced offense and defense led the team to grab a spot in the semifinal. They were scheduled to compete against the Indiana Pacers in the semifinal stage. Still, unfortunately, by a margin of nine points, the game ended up in defeat for them, which crushed their dream for the championship game. However, this season, they are also undefeated in their group stage, have avoided the mistakes they made in the previous season, and have reached the final gameplay. This game will be crucial for them to grab the championship they missed during the last NBA Cup season.
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Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Milwaukee Bucks – Event Details
Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Date: December 17, 2024 (Tuesday)
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET | 5:30 p.m. PT | 7:00 a.m. IST (Next Day)
Venue: T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas, NV)
Oklahoma City Thunder key players
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Jalen Williams
- Luguentz Dort
- Cason Wallace
- Aaron Wiggins
Milwaukee Bucks key players
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Damian Lillard
- Bobby Portis
- Brook Lopez
- Taurean Prince
Where to Watch the NBA Cup 2024 Final?
You can catch the NBA Cup 2024 Final on TV through ABC, ensuring you don’t miss a moment of the action.
For live streaming, you can use DAZN, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Max, Sling TV, and NBA League Pass.
For specific countries, tune in to TSN in Canada, Sky Sports in the UK, ESPN Australia in Australia, Sky Sport NZ in New Zealand, Jio Cinema and NBA League Pass in India, DAZN in Germany and South Korea, beIN Sports in France, Movistar Plus+ in Spain, Sky Sport in Italy.
ESPN Brasilis is in Brazil, ESPN Mexico is in Mexico, and NBA League Pass is in Japan and South Africa.
NBA TV Philippines in the Philippines, ESPN Argentina in Argentina, ESPN Colombia in Colombia, and ESPN Chile in Chile.
NBA Cup 2024 Prize Money
- Quarterfinal losers: $51,497
- Semifinal losers: $102,994
- Runner-up team members: $205,988
- Championship team members: $514,970
Prediction
The electrifying showdown between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks for the exciting NBA Cup 2024 final on December 17, 2024, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. This NBA regular season and NBA Cup journey was an exceptional journey for the Thunder, who are proving themself every time they enter the court. In the regular season, they are standing ahead in the Western Conference with a record of 20 wins and five losses. At their home games so far, they have won ten and lost only two matches, and on the road, they have won nine and three games and ended up in defeat. In addition, they won nine in their last ten matches and lost one with five winning streaks. This record shows their consistent performance this season, which will pay off the best. Their NBA Cup 2024 journey has been filled with resilience, teamwork, and stellar performance.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder; with his impressive and balanced performance, the team moved this far in the league. In the quarterfinals, the Thunder went up against the Dallas Mavericks. It was a tight match, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s timely performance propelled the Thunder to a 118-104 win. The team’s defense was essential in limiting Luka Dončić to only 16 points, showcasing their effective strategy and execution. The semifinals saw the Thunder take on the Houston Rockets. After a slow start, Oklahoma City scored 70 points in the second half to win 111-96. With 32 points, eight rebounds, six assists, five steals, and a block, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued his MVP-caliber performance. Isaiah Hartenstein also made a significant impact, scoring a career-high 21 points.
Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks are sixth in the Eastern Conference with 14 wins and 11 losses. Compared to their away games this season, they are doing great in their home with a record of nine wins and four losses, and away, they managed to win only four games and lost seven matches. They won eight in their last ten matches and lost only two games with three winning streaks. Looking over to their NBA Cup 2024 journey, they had an impressive run, and their offense was led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has been dominant throughout the tournament. Their journey commenced with an impeccable showing on the group stage, winning every match and showcasing their dominance. They faced the Orlando Magic by a five-point margin in the quarterfinal and secured the semifinal spot.
In the semifinals, they were scheduled to compete against the Atlanta Hawks. Their dominant performance continued, and they defeated them with a score of 110-102. Looking over to their tactical approach, the Oklahoma City Thunder depends on their ability to execute their defensive strategy. At the same time, the Milwaukee Bucks will rely on their scoring ability and versatility. The Oklahoma City Thunder have demonstrated impressive resilience and depth, spearheaded by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. If they manage to neutralize Giannis and receive solid contributions from their supporting players, an upset could be within reach.