At the end of a tight and suspenseful match, the Bucks beat the Hawks and reach the NBA Cup final! Trae Young tried everything but Giannis Antetokounmpo had the last word on the Vegas side.
To find the full stats of this match, click here
Head to Vegas for this first semi-final of the NBA Cup. On the program, two teams who like to attack and it therefore promises an entertaining match. Trae Young is hot from the start, his arabesques in the middle of the racket disrupt the Bucks, who have no other choice than to send him to the line repeatedly (8 shots in the first quarter!). Opposite, Giannis responds with force in the racket, the leaders are there.
The Hawks step on the accelerator, the match goes by at full speed on both sides of the field. In this little game, it’s Milwaukee who laughs, punishing Atlanta’s poor defensive withdrawals, notably with AJ Green still lethal at 3-points. Milwaukee takes advantage of Trae Young’s first rest to take the lead. The Atlanta attack is slipping without its leader, the Bucks punish but are not immune to lesser shots either, like Damian Lillard who forces a lot. A small 11-3 puts Atlanta back on level terms.
As one might expect, the fast pace begins to make players lose lucidity. The end of the half was marked by numerous forced shots and several very dirty actions. In this wide open match, it is Milwaukee who leads at the break (55-49). Trae Young is already on his way to a triple-double (12/7/7), Giannis carries Milwaukee with 14 points and a sheet no less full but several throws dropped on the line.
The return from the locker room is marked by the outbreak of Trae Young. Totally unconscious, the leader succeeds in everything he touches, offering us some succulent moves (that dribble behind the back deserved better). The balding plant 14 points in this third act alone. In its wake, the Hawks attack resumes its march forward. Giannis and a growing Lillard delay the deadline but Atlanta gains momentum. Jalen Johnson attacks the circle to give us one of the highlights of the evening and the Hawks take the lead before attacking money time! (83-82)
JALEN JOHNSON THREW IT DOWN IN TRAFFIC 🔨
đź“ş @NBA2K DataCast live NOW on TruTV and @SportsonMax pic.twitter.com/oHxV6Nqo26
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 14, 2024
This money time is starting very timidly on both sides. Positive point for Atlanta, they only need 4 minutes to be in the bonus and continue the passages on the line. The two teams go blow for blow, we have our thriller. It’s Giannis (32 points, 14 rebounds, 9 assists, 4 blocks!) who will unlock all that. In the last 5 minutes, the Freak becomes unstoppable. He pushes the Hawks in attack and he pulls out a crazy thing from his defensive composition with a XXXXXL block.
UNREAL BLOCK BY GIANNIS! pic.twitter.com/Uw4StJjRqu
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 14, 2024
Atlanta is starting to have heavy legs, like Trae Young who apart from the throws is no longer able to score as easily. Damian Lillard, in line with his good second half, offers himself the dagger which kills the suspense. At wear and tear, Milwaukee wins and will play in the NBA Cup final. (110-102)
DAME DOING WHAT HE DOES. pic.twitter.com/Fy4LJiUqRO
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 15, 2024