The Milwaukee Bucks cemented their place in NBA history on Tuesday night, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 97-81 to claim the NBA Cup title. Tournament MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with a commanding triple-double: 26 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists. Damian Lillard added 23 points, and the Bucks knocked down 17 three-pointers in a performance that secured their first NBA Cup victory and made them only the second champions in the tournament’s two-year history, joining the Los Angeles Lakers.
Brook Lopez and Gary Trent Jr. each contributed 13 points for Milwaukee, whose decisive second-half surge sealed the game. A 19-5 run turned a five-point contest into a commanding 19-point lead early in the fourth quarter, and the Bucks never looked back.
Despite missing guard Khris Middleton due to illness, Milwaukee showcased its depth and determination. The Bucks, now 12-1 in NBA Cup games and a perfect 7-0 this season, have made the tournament a priority. “Job’s not done,” Antetokounmpo said postgame, underscoring the team’s ambition for another title in June.
The Bucks’ dominance from beyond the arc proved decisive. They outscored the Thunder 51-15 on three-pointers, and their defensive intensity held Oklahoma City to just 34% shooting, including a paltry 31 points in the second half.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 21 points, while Jalen Williams added 18. Isaiah Hartenstein chipped in with 16 points and 12 rebounds, but Oklahoma City, a high-scoring team this season, struggled mightily. Their previous season-low of 99 points was shattered as the Bucks’ defense stifled them.
The Thunder trailed by as many as 20 points, an unusual position for a team that has rarely faced such deficits this season. Oklahoma City’s inability to close games when trailing after three quarters continued; they are now 0-5 in such situations.
One of the game’s defining sequences came with 9:12 left in the third quarter. A scramble for a loose ball led to multiple players on the floor, a technical foul on Thunder forward Lu Dort, and another on head coach Mark Daigneault. Damian Lillard capitalized with a five-point swing, sinking two free throws and a three-pointer to tilt the momentum firmly in Milwaukee’s favor.
Both teams now turn their attention back to the regular season. The Thunder (20-5) will visit Orlando on Thursday before facing Miami on Friday. The Bucks, winners of 13 of their last 16 games, travel to Cleveland on Friday and return home to host Washington on Saturday.
While the NBA Cup win does not count toward the regular-season standings, it was a moment worth celebrating for Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo’s exuberant fist pumps as the bench emptied with 1:37 left signaled the importance of the achievement. The Bucks, who endured a rocky 2-8 start, have turned their season around in spectacular fashion.
Milwaukee will now look to carry the momentum of this championship into their pursuit of another NBA title. As Giannis said, the job isn’t done—but for now, the Bucks are the kings of the NBA Cup.
