Bucks and Thunder, to the NBA Cup Final Four in Las Vegas

The first two teams are already classified for the NBA Cup Final Four in Las Vegas: Milwaukee Buckswho beat Orlando Magic 114-109, and Oklahoma City Thunderwho beat the Dallas Mavericks 118-104.

Bucks 114-109 Magic

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard led the Milwaukee Buckswhich qualified for the second year in a row for the final phase of the NBA Cup in Las Vegas, defeating the Orlando Magic in the quarterfinals and with many difficulties by 114-109.

The Bucks (13-11) have won nine of their last eleven games and will face the winner of the other East quarterfinal matchup between the New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks in the city of the game, which will be played this Wednesday.

Milwaukee also arrived in Las Vegas in the first edition of the NBA Cup but lost in the semifinals against the Indiana Pacers

Antetokounmpo, in exceptional form, shone with 37 points (15 of 24 shooting), 7 rebounds and 4 blocks. For his part, Lillard was key with 9 points in the last minute and finished the game with 28 points (8 of 15 on field goals and a perfect 10 of 10 from the line) and 9 assists.

Bobby Portis also stood out with 22 points (9 of 11) and 10 rebounds.

Orlando (17-10) has Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, who are its two stars, injured, but still sold its loss against the Bucks dearly, relying on its sharp defense.

The best of Florida’s players was Jalen Suggs, who had 32 points and 9 rebounds and who shone in the last quarter with 18 points.

Thunder 118-104 Mavericks

Thanks to a masterful defense that limited Luka Doncic to just 16 points, Oklahoma City Thunder, with an excellent Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, qualified for the NBA Cup finals in Las Vegas eliminating the Dallas Mavericks in the quarterfinals by 118-104.

The Thunder (19-5) will face the winner of the other Western quarters matchup between the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Cup semifinals.

With Lu Dort as an inexhaustible attack dog and constant two for one, Oklahoma annulled an unrecognizable Doncic with 16 points (only 2 in a terrible first half), 5 of 15 in field goals (2 of 8 in triples), 11 rebounds , 5 assists and 4 steals against 6 turnovers.

The Balkan averaged 28.7 points per game but could not find a way to overcome the Thunder’s pressure. Kyrie Irving also suffered and was left with 17 points while Klay Thompson and Naji Marshall were the Mavericks’ top scorers with 19 each.

Dallas (16-9), which was without PJ Washington, also saw its seven-game winning streak cut short.

For Oklahoma City, with 4 consecutive wins and 8 wins in 9 games, it was not only a fabulous showing against last season’s Western champion but they took revenge on the Mavericks who sent them on vacation in the Conference Semifinals.

Faced with Doncic’s disaster, Shai put on a show with 39 points (15 of 23 on shots, 5 of 9 on triples), 8 rebounds and 5 assists. He was followed by Jalen Williams (18 points and 7 rebounds) and Isaiah Hartenstein (10 points and 13 rebounds).

Clearly superior in terms of intensity, the Thunder controlled the rebound (52 with 17 on offense compared to Dallas’ 44) and forced 19 turnovers from the Mavericks that accounted for 36 points for Oklahoma City.