11.12.2024
Milwaukee Bucks 114 - 109 Orlando Magic
The Milwaukee Bucks secured a spot in the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas by defeating the Orlando Magic 114-109, with Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the charge by scoring 37 points. Damian Lillard was crucial in the final moments, adding nine of his 28 points in the last minute, helping the Bucks hold off a resilient Magic team led by Jalen Suggs, who scored 32 points but missed critical three-point attempts in the closing seconds. Despite missing key players Paolo Banchero, Jonathan Isaac, Franz Wagner, and Gary Harris, the Magic remained competitive, with contributions from their bench in the first half. Bobby Portis was instrumental in overturning an early 11-point deficit for the Bucks, finishing the game with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Khris Middleton facilitated the offense with eight assists. Antetokounmpo continued his impressive streak of 22 consecutive games with at least 20 points on 50% shooting, setting a league record to start a season. The Bucks will face the winner of the New York Knicks versus Atlanta Hawks quarterfinal match, while the Magic will compete against the loser of the same fixture.
Oklahoma City Thunder 118 - 104 Dallas Mavericks
The Oklahoma City Thunder advanced to the NBA Cup semifinals by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 118-104 in a quarterfinal matchup, led by a stellar performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 39 points. Jalen Williams contributed 18 points, while Isaiah Hartenstein posted a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. The Thunder were dominant defensively, restricting Luka Doncic to just 16 points on 5-for-15 shooting, with standout efforts from Lu Dort and support from Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace. Despite missing key player P.J. Washington, Dallas struggled with turnovers, committing 19 and allowing Oklahoma City to score 36 points off of them. The Thunder seized control in the second half, opening with a 13-2 run and extending their lead to as much as 20 points. Oklahoma City will now face the winner of the Golden State-Houston game in the semifinals on Saturday in Las Vegas.