One of the hottest teams in the NBA, one of the best teams in the league and two MVP candidates.
That’s what is featured in the NBA Cup final when the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo play the Oklahoma City Thunder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Tuesday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
It is a compelling matchup.
After a 2-8 start, the Bucks have won 12 of their past 15 games and are rising in the Eastern Conference standings behind the play of Damian Lillard and Antetokounmpo, who remains one of the league’s best players in his 12th season.
The Thunder are atop of the Western Conference at 20-5, and Gilgeous-Alexander is building his MVP case with another fantastic season.
Let’s take a closer look at the NBA Cup final:
How the Bucks can win the NBA Cup
Just 1½ games behind third-place New York in the East, sixth-place Milwaukee relies on Lillard and Antetokounmpo, the highest-scoring duo in the league at 58.4 points per game with Antetokounmpo leading the league in scoring at 32.7 ppg.
Antetokounmpo is tremendous and will be in the running for his third MVP if he continues to score, rebound (11.5 per game), pass (6.1 assists per game) and shoot 61.4% from the field, which is a career best. He also averages 1.6 blocks, his highest since 1.9 in 2016-17.
The Bucks need Antetokounmpo and Lillard to hit their scoring averages plus get double-figure scoring from Bobby Portis, Brook Lopez, Gary Trent Jr., AJ Green and Taurean Prince to beat the Thunder.
Milwaukee has improved offensively and defensively in the past 15 games and is No. 8 in net rating over that 12-3 stretch, scoring 115.7 points and allowing 110 points per 100 possessions.
It won’t be easy against the Thunder, one of the best offensive and defensive teams in the league. Milwaukee needs its best offensive and defensive performance of the season to win the Cup title.
How the Thunder can win the NBA Cup
The Thunder are No. 8 offensively (115.2 points per 100 possessions), No. 1 defensively (103.1 points allowed per 100 possessions) and have the No.1 net rating (plus-12.1), nearly two points better than Boston.
Gilgeous-Alexander averages 30.3 points, 6.3 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals and shoots 51% from the field, 34% on 3s and 86.4% on free throws. He is just one of two players (Denver’s Nikola Jokic is the other) averaging at least 30 points, 6.0 assists, 5.0 steals and 1.5 assists.
It’s not a one-man show even with Chet Holmgren (hip injury) sidelined. Jalen Williams is an emerging All-Star, a stellar two-way player, posting 21.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Isaiah Hartenstein, one of the league’s most savvy offseason signings, and Lu Dort each average at least 10 points and are part of a deep rotation that includes Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, Cason Wallace, Kenrich Williams, Ajay Mitchell and Alex Caruso.
Defensively, the Thunder are long, strong, versatile and physical. They lead the league in steals per game (12.2), are fourth in blocks per game (6.3), No. 1 in turnovers forced per game (19.1), No. 1 in points off turnovers per game (22.7), No. 1 in field goal percentage allowed (42.4%), No. 1 in 3-point shooting percentage allowed (33.1%) and No. 1 in points allowed in the paint per game (41.8).
They protect the paint and the perimeter, and they will use that attack to try and limit Antetokounmpo and Lillard.
NBA Cup predictions
Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY
Thunder 112, Bucks 100
Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY
Thunder 108, Bucks 101
James Williams, USA TODAY
Thunder 100, Bucks 98
How to watch the NBA Cup final
The game is Tuesday, Dec. 17, at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Mike Breen will handle play-by-play duties with Doris Burke and Richard Jefferson providing analysis and Lisa Salters reporting from the sidelines.
Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt
