Oklahoma City Thunder vs Milwaukee Bucks
The Thunder and the Bucks have a unique opportunity to win some silverware early this season since these two teams will vie for the NBA Cup tomorrow. In addition to the coveted trophy, the large cash bonuses are what’s motivating these two teams to win.
The Thunder reached this far by going 3-1 in Group B of the Western Conference and beating the Mavericks in the quarterfinals and the Rockets in the semifinals. The Bucks punched their tickets to Sin City by going undefeated throughout their NBA Cup run, going 4-0 in Group B of the Eastern Conference before defeating the Magic and the Hawks in the knockout phase.
The pregame NBA 2024 odds expect a tight contest. Overall, SBOTOP basketball fans should watch this game with interest because of the NBA 2024 highlights we’ll have in store for tomorrow.
Talking Points
Bucks need a breakout game from Middleton
The Bucks improved to a 14-11 record after starting the 2024-25 campaign with a 2-8 record because they now have a healthier squad. Milwaukee have only lost one game since Khris Middleton returned from ankle surgery.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard have been balling lately, so they’re expected to have a great game against the Thunder. However, the Bucks won’t win the NBA Cup if Khris Middleton doesn’t perform well by his lofty standards. In his last four games, Middleton only averages 7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game on a woeful 25.9-per cent shooting from the field.
Khris Middleton only took two shots and went scoreless during the Bucks’ quarterfinals win over the Magic, but he had four rebounds, eight assists, and three steals to make up for it. Against the Hawks in the semis, the three-time NBA All-Star tallied six points, three rebounds, and four assists on 2-for-7 shooting from the field.
Because he hasn’t regained his strong form yet, Middleton will likely come off the bench against Oklahoma City, alongside Bobby Portis, AJ Green, and Gary Trent Jr. Middleton doesn’t need to score a lot, he only needs to be more efficient from the field to give his team a better chance of winning.
Defense is the Thunder’s calling card
The Thunder have the best record in the Western Conference at 20-5 and have won nine of their last 10 matches. Besides the consistency from stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, their defense makes them a handful to deal with this year.
According to NBA.com, Oklahoma City boast the best defense in the league, with a rating of 103.1 points per 100 possessions. No team has ever breached the 130-point threshold against them this season.
Even without Chet Holmgren, the Thunder are difficult to score against because of their lengthy and versatile defenders. Other than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City also have Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, Isaiah Hartenstein, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, Cason Wallace, and Kenrich Williams, who could contribute on both ends of the floor.
History
The Lakers won the inaugural NBA Cup (previously known as the NBA In-Season Tournament) last season after going undefeated and beating the Pacers in the final. This year, the Purple and Gold didn’t qualify for the knockout phase after going 2-2 in Group B of the Western Conference.
The Bucks qualified for the knockout phase last year but lost to the Pacers in the semifinals. The Thunder didn’t make it after going 1-3 in Group C in the Western Conference. Darvin Ham boasts a 12-0 record in the NBA Cup as the former head coach of the Lakers and assistant coach to the Bucks this season.
Each player on the championship team will receive a $500,000 bonus, while the runners-up will receive a $200,000 bonus.
What are the odds?
As mentioned, the pregame betting odds expect this game to be close. The Thunder have the edge at 1.48 odds, whereas the Bucks are priced at 2.66 to win. Tomorrow could be a low-scoring affair since both teams thrive on the defensive end. Under 215.50 at 1.99, Under 215.00 at 2.01, Under 214.50 at 2.05, and Under 214.00 at 2.11 are solid betting options.
The matchup between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Giannis Antetokounmpo will be the one to watch, as the winner will likely determine this year’s NBA Cup winners. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the favourite to win the NBA Cup MVP trophy at 1.50, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is at 3.30. Damian Lillard and Jalen Williams are the distant challengers for such individual recognition at 9.00 and 36.00, respectively.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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