Antetokounmpo leads Bucks past Thunder to NBA Cup title

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Antetokounmpo leads Bucks past Thunder to NBA Cup title

Giannis Antetokounmpo has scored 26 points to go with 18 rebounds and 10 assists to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA Cup title with a 97-81 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Milwaukee are the second winner of the Cup, following the Los Angeles Lakers’ championship in the inaugural tournament last season.

Damian Lillard also added 23 points for the Bucks in Las Vegas on Tuesday.

“Everybody did their job,” Lillard said.

“We defended. We played well from the start of the game all the way through the finish.

“I think it just showed what we’ve been building. I think it all came out in our biggest game to this point.”

Antekokounmpo said the win was “great for our team”.

“We’re getting better. … We know we’re leaving Vegas as a better team,” he said.

“I’m so proud of this group. Man, I’m so proud of this group.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 21 points but shot just eight-for-24 from the field, including two of nine from 3-point range.

Jalen Williams added 18 points on eight-of-20 shooting, while Isaiah Hartenstein added 16.

Antetokounmpo scored 14 points in the first half and Lillard chipped in 12 as Milwaukee led 51-50 at the break.

Hartenstein paced the Thunder with 14 points in the half, despite earning a technical foul after a dust-up with Bucks guard Andre Jackson Jr.

Milwaukee made 34 of its 81 attempts (42 per cent) from the field for the game, shooting 17 of 40 (42.5 per cent) from 3-point range.

The Bucks out rebounded Oklahoma City 52-43 and led by as many 20 points in the second half.

The Thunder shot 29 of 86 (33.7 per cent) from the field, making only five of 32 attempts (15.6 per cent) from long distance.

Oklahoma coach Mark Daigneault said his side did some good things.

“We outscored them in the paint so obviously we did the job defensively on that end,” he said.

“But obviously a tough night offensively all the way around for us. We didn’t score nearly enough points, especially in the second half, to give ourselves a chance to win.

“But we can learn from it, move forward here.”

Mired toward the bottom of the NBA after a 2-8 start, the Bucks have been on a tear since.

This was their 13th win in their last 16 games, even though it won’t be part of the official record.

With AP

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