NBA Cup 2024 recap: Giannis Antetokounmpo leads Bucks into final with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder

The Milwaukee Bucks and the Oklahoma City Thunder will contest the final of the NBA Cup on Tuesday 17 December after both basketball teams emerged victorious from their semi-finals on Saturday in Las Vegas.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 32 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists as the Bucks defeated the Atlanta Hawks 110-102 on the first of the night's knockout games.

Antetokounmpo, who is averaging a league-leading 32.7 points per game this season, was productive on both ends of the floor with a showstopping block on Clint Capela’s shot with 2:35 remaining a prime example of his efforts.

Milwaukee now progress to their first Cup final undefeated, having been eliminated in the semis last year.

In the other semi-final, the Oklahoma City Thunder earned the right to represent the West after dispatching the Houston Rockets 111-96.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 32 points in a dogged clash with the Thunder and Rockets combining for just 83 points in the first half.

An 11-0 run in the third, engineered by Gilgeous-Alexander, helped OKC to pull away from Houston and consequently, claim the finals berth. The victory was Gilgeous-Alexander’s fourth consecutive game with at least 30 points and his 13th of the season.

The only player ahead of the Canadian is his NBA Cup final rival Antetokounmpo who is sitting on 16.

The NBA Cup Final will tip-off at 5:30 pm (PT), which is 8:30 pm (ET). Fans can watch the action live on ABC.