Giannis Antetokounmpo is growing his legend, and in the process, so is the Milwaukee Bucks franchise. The team triumphed on the back of their leader and secured the NBA Cup by defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 97-81 in the final.

After the 2021 championship, Giannis has now claimed this title too. While it may not carry the same weight as the championship ring, every title counts, and with a performance like that in the final, the Bucks were always going to win.

Their outstanding defense and second-half explosion left no room for the Thunder. Antetokounmpo didn’t just come to play this final; he came to win it. In the end, he took everything and walked away from Las Vegas as the MVP, making history as the second player to win four different MVP titles.

Thunder – Bucks: The Game

The Thunder made an ideal start to the game. Focusing on Brook Lopez’s defense and Isaiah Hartenstein causing significant damage with three floaters, the Oklahoma City team quickly gained an early lead of 16-9, shooting an impressive 8/10 on two-pointers!

However, Giannis Antetokounmpo immediately took charge and kept the Bucks close in the game until the long-range shots started falling. The Bucks hit 5/7 three-pointers to take a 20-22 lead with a shot from Lillard (9′), running an 8-0 streak. Hartenstein continued to perform, but as long as the Bucks kept shooting well, the Thunder couldn’t create a significant gap.

By the start of the second quarter, with Lillard leading the way, the Bucks managed a small lead of 30-35. But the Thunder’s defense soon reacted, and Milwaukee’s offense stagnated.

Giannis returned to scoring, quickly closing the gap at 42-37 (17′). The Thunder attempted to counter by placing Caruso on him and sending help defense, but they struggled, making just 1/17 three-pointers in the first half. As a result, the Bucks entered halftime with a slim lead of 50-51.

And then came the explosion for the Bucks. It was as if they caught the Thunder off guard at the start of the second half. Prince hit a three-pointer, followed by a defensive play leading to another transition three-pointer from Lillard and two free throws from a technical foul. Another three-pointer from Dame brought the Bucks to a 53-64 lead (27′), a margin they maintained thanks to Antetokounmpo.

The Thunder increased their defensive intensity, committing hard fouls, but the Greek Freak was simply unstoppable. When the Thunder went on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 64-69 (32′), with SGA gaining momentum, Antetokounmpo responded with five points of his own and a three-pointer, bringing the Bucks to a 64-77 lead (36′).

Two more crucial three-pointers from Gary Trent Jr. and Lopez extended the Bucks’ lead to +17 (66-83, 38′). This not only gave them a strong lead but also allowed the leader to rest a bit. Despite the Thunder’s efforts to push even harder, Milwaukee found answers. Lillard hit another three-pointer (73-91, 41′), maintaining the difference near 20.

Antetokounmpo’s ninth assist led the Bucks to a 75-94 scoreline with 4:20 left, cementing their victory. Even as the Thunder tried to believe in a comeback, Giannis made two blocks to seal the game. The Bucks triumphed and claimed the NBA Cup.

Game Quarter Scores: 28-27, 50-51, 64-77, 81-97

Road to the Final

The Bucks secured their spot in the final by first defeating the Pistons, Heat, Raptors, and Pacers, finishing at the top of East Group B, which brought them face-to-face with the second-place Orlando Magic from East Group A. They overcame this hurdle in the quarterfinals with a 114-109 win, advancing to the Final Four for the second consecutive year. The last step was a victory over the Atlanta Hawks, 110-102.

Last-Minute Problem for the Bucks

Just before tip-off, the Bucks faced a last-minute problem with Khris Middleton, who was suffering from an illness and unable to play, leaving Coach Doc Rivers without his services.