Triple double and MVP title for Antetokounmpo in the Las Vegas final: 29 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists
Simone Sandri
December 18 – 07:26 – LAS VEGAS
Las Vegas crowns Milwaukee and a fantastic Giannis takes home the well-deserved MVP award. With the conquest of the NBA Cup, the Bucks complete a sensational change of pace after the terrible start to the season (2-8), with the 12th success in the last 15 games played. Oklahoma City must therefore surrender. After a balanced first half, Milwaukee accelerates in the third quarter, dominating the second half and going on to win easily 97-81. Antetokounmpo closed a cinematic NBA Cup by scoring a triple double in the Vegas final: 26 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists.
the match
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Milwaukee has to give up the affected Middleton, however it doesn’t change OKC’s defensive approach as they try to annoy Giannis with Hartenstein’s physicality. The former Knicks is a thorn in the side of the Bucks defense in the first quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander produces a couple of baskets of his own, Antetokounmpo and Lillard respond but the match doesn’t take off. The Thunder try to shake up the game at the beginning of the second quarter and with a 12-2 run they seem ready for a decisive acceleration, but Giannis has other plans. The Greek’s baskets immediately pick up Okc who continues to make an incredible effort from the perimeter. Jalen Williams’ flashes aren’t enough, Milwaukee stays in front and goes into the break leading 51-50 after an unmemorable first half in which Oklahoma City shoots a disastrous 1/17 from long range.
the key
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The Bucks ran away in the second half, scoring 13 of the first 15 points of the third quarter. Giannis attacks the basket and finds little resistance from the Okc defense, on the other side of the court the triples continue to fail for Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates, a terrible mix, and the match passes into the hands of the Bucks. At the start of the final half, triples from Lopez and Trent Jr. push Milwaukee to +19 and start the closing credits early. It is therefore the Bucks who take up the baton from the Lakers, winners of the first edition of the tournament, and celebrate on the Las Vegas parquet.
Milwaukee: Antetokounmpo 26 (10/19, 6/11 tl), Lillard 23, Trent Jr., Lopez 13. Rimbalzi: Antetokounmpo 19. Assists: Antetokounmpo 10.
Oklahoma City: Gilgeous-Alexander 21 (6/15, 2/9, 3/4 tl), Jal. Williams 18, Hartenstein 16. Rimbalzi: Hartenstein 12. Assist: Jal. Williams 3.
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