Without Middleton, the Bucks have to chase, at the opening of the NBA Cup final in Las Vegas, the Thunder who go around the Hartenstein totem with the incursions of Shai Gilegeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams (11-18). By tightening the defensive shirts and relying on the usual Antetokounmpo-Lillard duo, however, they allow them to resist after the first 12′ (27-28). The back and forth continued in the second quarter, with alternating bursts, and at halftime we were on the edge with Brook Lopez (51-50), with Giannis already well on his way to a triple double.
In the third quarter, a 3-point shot sparked a 13-3 run that was capped by a five-point play by Damian Lillard after two technical fouls called on Lu Dort and Mark Daigneault (64-53). The Thunder remain in wait (69-64), and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s reaction is ferocious with ten consecutive personal points (77-64). Three more shots from beyond the arc, this time from Brook Lopez and Gary Trent Jr., in the first 3′ of the final quarter put OKC within 20 (86-66). The Thunder are put on the ropes by a defense that no longer concedes anything, and close the match with only 31 points scored in the second half.
Milwaukee – Oklahoma City 97-91. Boxscore: 26p+19r+10as Antetokounmpo, 23 Lillard, 13p+9r Lopez, 13 Trent Jr. per i Bucks; 21 Gilgeous-Alexander, 21 Ja. Williams, 16p+12r Hartenstein per i Thunder. The Bucks succeed the Lakers in the Emirates NBA Cup roll of honour.
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