NBA Cup 2024 Recap : Bucks-Thunder all set to battle it out for the Championship

The semifinals were thrilling, with both teams delivering standout performances to earn their spots in the final.

• Bucks 110, Hawks 102:
  Led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had an impressive 32 points, 14 rebounds, and 9 assists, the Milwaukee Bucks remained undefeated in the tournament. The Bucks held off a late challenge from the Atlanta Hawks to advance to the championship game.

• Thunder 111, Rockets 96:
  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander starred for the Oklahoma City Thunder, posting a game-high 32 points, along with 8 rebounds and 6 assists. The Thunder withstood a strong effort from the Houston Rockets to punch their ticket to the final.

The championship game between the Bucks and Thunder will take place on Tuesday, December 17, at 8:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on ABC.

Quarterfinals Recap: Thrilling Finishes

The road to the semifinals was full of dramatic moments and close calls, with teams battling for the chance to advance.

• Rockets 91, Warriors 90:
  The Houston Rockets secured the final spot in the NBA Cup semifinals with a dramatic 7-0 run in the final 1:16, capped off by clutch free throws from Jalen Green in the dying seconds.

• Hawks 108, Knicks 100:
  The Atlanta Hawks mounted a strong second-half comeback to defeat the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. De’Andre Hunter, Trae Young, and Jalen Johnson combined for 67 points, overcoming a 12-point deficit to advance to the semifinals.

• Bucks 114, Magic 109:
  Giannis Antetokounmpo was dominant again, leading the Bucks with 37 points in a tough win over the Orlando Magic. With Damian Lillard scoring nine of his 28 points in the final minute, Milwaukee held off a late charge from Jalen Suggs and the Magic to advance.

• Thunder 118, Mavericks 104:
  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was exceptional once again, scoring 39 points, adding 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals, as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Dallas Mavericks. Luka Dončić struggled, scoring just 16 points on 5-for-15 shooting, as Oklahoma City moved on to the semifinals.

Knockout Rounds Format

The NBA Cup knockout rounds follow a single-elimination format, with three rounds—Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Championship—played over the course of one week.

• Quarterfinals and Semifinals: These games count toward the regular-season standings and stats.
• Championship: The Championship game is the only match in the NBA Cup that will not count toward regular-season records.

The team that survives this intense format will be crowned NBA Cup Champion.

Teams in the Knockout Rounds

The teams that made it to the knockout rounds were as follows:

Eastern Conference

• Milwaukee Bucks (East #1, Group B winner)
• New York Knicks (East #2, Group A winner)
• Atlanta Hawks (East #3, Group C winner)
• Orlando Magic (East #4, Wild Card)

Western Conference

• Oklahoma City Thunder (West #1, Group B winner)
• Houston Rockets (West #2, Group A winner)
• Golden State Warriors (West #3, Group C winner)
• Dallas Mavericks (West #4, Wild Card)

What's at Stake in the Championship

As the Bucks and Thunder prepare for the final, fans are eagerly awaiting who will be crowned the NBA Cup 2024 champion. The winner will take home the Emirates NBA Cup trophy, with individual players also vying for tournament accolades such as the MVP and All-Tournament selections.

The NBA Cup Championship will be broadcast live on ABC at 8:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 17.