Tag: Oklahoma City Thunder

Categories
NBA (Basketball)

The surging Thunder aim to prove their value in their upcoming matchup against the Pacers

Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA)

The Oklahoma City Thunder are feeling motivated to prove themselves when they face the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night, after being left off the Christmas Day schedule.

Despite finishing the 2023-24 season with a 57-25 record and securing the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, Oklahoma City was not selected for a Christmas game. Even coming close to reaching the conference finals last spring didn’t earn them the spotlight.

However, the Thunder have not let this holiday snub affect them, as they have won 23 of their first 28 games this season, putting them at the top of the West again. Still, star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is determined to make sure his team is not overlooked any longer.

“Disappointed for sure,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I’d love to play on Christmas Day, and I think we’re that caliber of a team. The NBA makes (its) decisions; you can’t slight them for it. The ball’s in our court to prove to them why we deserve to play on that day.”

The Thunder showed their strength on Monday, when Gilgeous-Alexander scored 41 points in a 123-105 victory over the Washington Wizards. This was their eighth straight win, and they have gone 12-1 since November 20.

It was also the season debut of Jaylin Williams, who had appeared in 69 games last season. He contributed three points and two assists in eight minutes off the bench.

Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell dribbles during the first half

“It was great to have J-Will back,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “He is the ultimate compete-together player. His ability to endure a trying individual time for himself professionally and stay as spirited and inside the team is really a testament to his character and resilience.”

The Pacers are also on a hot streak, extending their winning run to five games after a 111-105 win over the Golden State Warriors on Monday. All five of their starters scored in double figures, with Myles Turner leading the way with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

During their winning streak, the Pacers have held opponents to 104.4 points per game, and Turner hopes they continue focusing on defense.

“I think the beginning of the season we were all — myself included — kind of just worried about our offense and how we’re going to score the ball,” Turner said. “But that’s one of the things we do best. We’ve got to hang our hat on the defensive side of the ball. I think we’re going to continue to keep working.”

To stop Gilgeous-Alexander, the Pacers will likely rely on Andrew Nembhard, who did an excellent job defending Golden State’s Stephen Curry on Monday. Curry struggled, scoring only 10 points on 2-for-13 shooting.

“Yeah, I think he takes defense (seriously). That’s his role, especially with the starting unit,” Curry said of Nembhard. “Whoever the best scorer is, go-to guy, he takes that responsibility.”

Categories
NBA (Basketball)

Alex Caruso Gets Contract Extension With Thunder, Deal For Four-Year Worth $81 Million

Alex Caruso (Photo: Imagn)

Alex Caruso has reached a four-year, $81 million contract extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

This extension represents the maximum amount the Thunder are legally allowed to pay Caruso, and the deal comes after a six-month waiting period following his acquisition in a trade.

The trade, which sent Caruso to Oklahoma City in exchange for Josh Giddey, was finalized on June 21. This meant the six-month waiting period ended on Saturday, and the deal was officially announced the following day, on Sunday.

Since joining the Thunder, the Caruso trade has proven to be highly beneficial for a team that is having one of the best defensive seasons in NBA history.

Caruso currently leads the league in defensive field goal percentage allowed and ranks seventh in deflections per game and 10th in steals, despite playing only 20 minutes per game.

The Thunder’s defensive numbers have been outstanding, allowing an exceptionally low 95.8 points per 100 possessions with Caruso on the court this season.

Though his three-point shooting is currently a disappointing 27%, Caruso posted over 40% from beyond the arc last season and had become a reliable shooter during his time with the Chicago Bulls.

Alex Caruso

This contract is particularly notable as it marks the first significant financial commitment the Thunder have made that extends into the 2026-27 season.

This timing is crucial because it coincides with when Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are expected to sign max contracts.

With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander already on a max deal, this period will mark the Thunder’s transition into a more expensive phase, requiring careful consideration of team-building decisions and salary cap considerations.

The Thunder have been preparing for this moment for some time. Isaiah Hartenstein, Lu Dort, and Kenrich Williams all have team options for the 2026-27 season.

Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe both signed relatively affordable contracts last offseason, with annual values decreasing each year.

Meanwhile, most of the team’s notable players are still under rookie contracts, and Oklahoma City holds one of the largest reserves of future draft picks in the league.

Even as the Thunder face the challenge of paying Williams and Holmgren max contracts, they will still have the ability to maintain a deep roster. However, this will make roster decisions more difficult, and tough choices will have to be made.

Caruso’s extension suggests the Thunder intend to keep him as part of their long-term plans, even as they navigate the financial complexities that come with a more expensive roster in the future.

Categories
NBA (Basketball)

Tensions rise ahead of the NBA Cup final between the Bucks and Thunder

Shai Gilgeous Alexander and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the 1st half

Tuesday night’s championship game between Milwaukee and Oklahoma City didn’t have the same intensity as a playoff game, but it had more energy than usual for the second edition of the NBA Cup.

With a trophy and a lot of money at stake, it was clear this wasn’t just another regular-season game in mid-December.

Even though it didn’t count in the standings, the game still had added significance.

“It’s closer to an elevated regular season than the playoffs, in my opinion,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said after his team lost 97-81 to the Bucks.

“The time of year has to do with that. The nature of a series versus a one-and-done situation has to do with that. Playing against better teams with higher stakes and more distractions is a good experience in December for our team.”

Four technical fouls were called by early in the third quarter, but none were called after that as the Bucks started to take control and settle the game.

Giannis Antetokounmpo in the 1st half

The tension increased late in the first half when the Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein and the Bucks’ Andre Jackson Jr. had a minor scuffle, each receiving a technical foul. Hartenstein didn’t like Jackson hitting teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander below the waist while he was shooting.

Hartenstein walked toward Jackson and pointed at his face with his right index finger. Jackson slapped it away, and others stepped in to prevent things from getting worse.

“If it would’ve happened to any other teammate, I would’ve done the same thing,” Hartenstein said. “The refs didn’t call it, so I had to take it into my own hands. Maybe they didn’t see it, but I saw it.”

The most important moment came early in the third quarter when Oklahoma City’s Lu Dort and Daigneault were both called for technical fouls after a scramble for a loose ball. Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard made both free throws and then hit a 30-foot 3-pointer in just four seconds to put the Bucks up 64-53.

The Thunder didn’t really put up much of a challenge after that.

“I made my point (to the officials),” Daigneault said. “I’m not going to get too far into it. I like those guys. They did a good job. They didn’t lose it for us.”

The Bucks did plenty on their own to win, and Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers said his team brought extra intensity, especially on defense.

Oklahoma City was held to its lowest point total of the season, and it wasn’t even close. The Thunder’s previous lowest point total was 83 in a win against the Phoenix Suns on Nov. 15. They entered this game averaging 115.6 points per game.

Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder

“One of the guys said yesterday all they heard was the defense of the other team,” Rivers said. “That’s all they heard for two days, and I think that bothered guys. They were very focused on keeping them to a low number.”

This is the second year the Cup has been played, and last year’s first edition, which was called the NBA In-Season Tournament, was a learning experience for many teams because the event was new.

This year, there was more intensity, which was clear not only in the final but throughout the group play and knockout stages.

“I feel that teams cared about it a little bit more,” Lillard said. “I think teams played with more pride about trying to reach Vegas and having a chance to win at the end.”

Categories
NBA (Basketball)

The NBA Cup final highlighted differing approaches to spending, and the league is perfectly okay with that

Giannis Antetokounmpo in the 1st half

The NBA Cup finalists showed different ways of playing and spending money.

Tuesday night’s championship game in Las Vegas between Milwaukee and Oklahoma City featured a matchup between two teams with different spending styles. The Bucks are above the NBA’s second apron, a limit that restricts how teams can trade for or sign players once exceeded. In contrast, the Thunder are below the first apron.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver thinks this difference is fitting.

“I think it’s great for the new (collective bargaining agreement),” Silver said Tuesday in a meeting with reporters before Milwaukee won the NBA Cup 97-81. “At the same time, there is a correlation between success on the floor and spending — and that’s the reason behind the second apron. We’re not trying to make any secret out of it.”

The apron system will limit how some teams can make trades in the future. Earlier this season, when Minnesota and New York were finalizing the trade to send Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks, Timberwolves basketball operations president Tim Connelly said the new rules were difficult to deal with.

Shai Gilgeous Alexander and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the 1st half

“The new rules … some of the consequences are unintended, quite frankly,” Connelly said this fall. “I don’t know if anyone intended to make it this challenging to make moves, to make trades when you’re above certain aprons.”

Silver said the league knew about some of the challenges the new rules would create.

“I understand the frustration of some of the general managers because particularly if you go over the apron, we’ve cut down on your flexibility,” Silver said Tuesday. “But that was the very intent of the second apron and with the goal being to have a better distribution of star talent around the league. And I think we’ve been successful in doing that.”

The league believes that big-market and big-spending teams can win, but so can smaller-market and lower-spending teams. Milwaukee is one of four teams above the second apron, along with Boston, Phoenix, and Minnesota.

“There’s many different ways to win,” Silver said.

Categories
NBA (Basketball)

Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the Bucks to victory over the Thunder in the NBA Cup final

Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 26 points, grabbed 18 rebounds, and made 10 assists to help the Milwaukee Bucks win the NBA Cup with a 97-81 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.

This victory makes Milwaukee the second team to win the NBA Cup, following the Los Angeles Lakers, who won the first-ever tournament last season.

Damian Lillard also contributed 23 points for the Bucks.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 21 points but struggled with his shooting, making only 8 of 24 shots from the field, including just 2 of 9 from three-point range. Jalen Williams scored 18 points, shooting 8 of 20, while Isaiah Hartenstein added 16 points.

Lillard extended the Bucks’ lead to 11 points with one of his famous long-range three-pointers, making it 9:08 into the third quarter. This came right after back-to-back technical fouls were called on Thunder forward Luguentz Dort and head coach Mike Daigneault, leading to two free throws that Lillard made.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Milwaukee had a 77-64 lead.

Shai Gilgeous Alexander and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the 1st half

Antetokounmpo scored 14 points in the first half, while Lillard added 12, giving the Bucks a 51-50 lead at halftime. Hartenstein led the Thunder with 14 points, making all five of his shots in the half, although he received a technical foul after a confrontation with Bucks guard Andre Jackson Jr.

Neither team could pull ahead by more than five points during the second quarter, and the Bucks outscored the Thunder 24-22.

The Thunder started the game strong with a 16-9 run, forcing the Bucks to take a timeout after 4 1/2 minutes. Lillard responded by scoring seven points during a 13-4 run that gave the Bucks their first lead with 3:26 left in the first quarter.

At the end of the first quarter, Oklahoma City led 28-27, partly because of a go-ahead three-pointer by Gilgeous-Alexander with 1:22 remaining.

The Bucks made 34 out of 81 shots (42 percent) from the field and hit 17 of 40 three-point attempts (42.5 percent). They also out-rebounded the Thunder 52-43 and led by as many as 20 points in the second half.

The Thunder made 29 of 86 shots (33.7 percent) from the field and only 5 of 32 three-point attempts (15.6 percent).

Categories
NBA (Basketball)

The NBA Cup final between the Bucks and Thunder will feature a significant amount of money on the line

Oklahoma City Thunder- Shai Gilgeous-Alexande (NBA)

When the Milwaukee Bucks secured their spot in the NBA Cup championship game, many of the team’s younger and lower-paid players were excited in the locker room. Yes, they have a shot at winning a trophy, which is great.

But they also have a chance to earn their biggest paycheck ever. The NBA Cup final — the Bucks vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder — will take place on Tuesday in Las Vegas, and the players on the winning team will each receive an additional $308,983 in prize money.

For the league’s top stars, this amount might be the equivalent of one game’s salary, or maybe half a game’s salary. However, for many players, this is still a huge sum of money.

“I try not to think about the money,” said Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is earning about $48.8 million this season. “No, it’s not accurate what I’m saying. I think about the money — but I think about the money when we talk about the young guys.”

The players on the winning team will receive $514,971 from the league’s Cup prize pool if they are on standard NBA contracts. The players on the losing team will get $205,988 each. Players on two-way contracts will receive half of those amounts.

Milwaukee Bucks (NBA)

Thunder two-way player Ajay Mitchell, who currently makes $578,577, usually earns about $7,056 per game. He will make much more than that on Tuesday, regardless of whether his team wins or loses.

“Obviously, there’s a lot of money on the line,” Mitchell said. “But my main focus is just on the win. It’s exciting to know that there’s money on the line, but the main focus is just winning another basketball game.”

The NBA Cup includes a prize pool to encourage players. Teams that lost in the semifinals — Atlanta and Houston — saw their players earn $102,994 each. Teams that lost in the quarterfinals — New York, Orlando, Golden State, and Dallas — saw their players earn $51,497 each.

“I might get a new watch,” said Knicks forward Josh Hart, when asked what he would do with his bonus. His response went viral, though he wasn’t entirely serious. “I don’t really care about the young guys getting money. I only care about me, what I’m going to spend.”

For six players on the Bucks and Thunder — Antetokounmpo, along with Bucks teammates Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton, and Brook Lopez, and Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Hartenstein — the difference between winning and losing on Tuesday is more than just an average day’s pay. On average, these six players make about $443,300 per game.

For the rest of the players, the trip to Las Vegas will provide a nice financial boost — with some benefiting more than others.

“Not everybody gets the same paycheck in the NBA,” said Thunder forward Jalen Williams, who makes about $4.8 million this season. “We have guys that are on two-way contracts and some guys that are fighting to stay in the league. So, obviously, that money is a bigger deal for some people than others — so we definitely play for that.”

Bucks reserve A.J. Green, who makes about $2.1 million this season, finds the idea of adding $500,000 to his salary for just one game incredible.

“It is crazy,” Green said. “But that shouldn’t make you play any harder. It really shouldn’t.”

Milwaukee Bucks and Charlotte Hornets

Nothing makes Bucks forward Bobby Portis play harder. He treats every game with full effort. Portis is from Little Rock, Arkansas, where the average household income is about $60,000, and about one in six people live in poverty in the city.

He recognizes how fortunate he is.

“It’ll take guys a lifetime to make $500,000 where I’m from,” Portis said. “So, I don’t take any dollar amount lightly.”

Green said he would give part of his bonus to his church, some to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and save the rest. Mitchell plans to save almost all of the money he earns from the NBA Cup.

Antetokounmpo’s NBA contracts — both past and future — total around $460 million, which includes just his on-court deals. He achieved his goal of providing for his family long ago and has built wealth that will last for generations. But he still believes Tuesday is important for everyone.

“It’s life-changing money,” Antetokounmpo said. “Obviously, $500,000, you can put a down payment on a house. You can put the down payment on two houses. … It’s an ongoing joke we have in our locker room. We say we play for the young guys because this money will mean a lot to them. But it really means a lot to everybody — because it’s a lot of money.”

Categories
FEATURED

Thunder defeat Rockets and clinch a place in the NBA Cup final

Oklahoma City Thunder- Shai Gilgeous-Alexande (NBA)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 111-96 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night, securing a spot in the NBA Cup final.

The Thunder will face the Milwaukee Bucks in the final on Tuesday in Las Vegas.

Isaiah Hartenstein contributed 21 points, shooting 9-of-12, and added eight rebounds. Jalen Williams had 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists.

The Rockets were only down by two, 68-66, after Dillon Brooks made a layup with 2:12 left in the third quarter. But Oklahoma City stretched its lead to 75-69 by the end of the quarter, then dominated in the fourth.

In the final period, the Thunder went on a 17-10 run, taking a 92-79 lead when Williams hit a jumper. Fred VanVleet managed to reduce the Rockets’ deficit to 101-93 with a 3-pointer at 2:13, but Oklahoma City quickly responded with the next eight points to secure the win.

Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder

Amen Thompson came off the bench for Houston to lead the team with 19 points and seven rebounds. Dillon Brooks and Jabari Smith Jr. each scored 14 points, and Alperen Sengun added 13. VanVleet struggled, scoring only eight points on 3-for-15 shooting.

The first half was sloppy, with both teams shooting under 34 percent. Houston led 42-41 at halftime after being up by six before Gilgeous-Alexander scored the final five points of the second quarter.

In the first quarter, Oklahoma City made 7 of 23 shots (30.4 percent) while Houston made 6 of 24 (25 percent). Houston had a 16-9 lead just over eight minutes into the game and held a 20-18 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

For the game, the Thunder shot 45 percent, while the Rockets shot 36.5 percent.

Categories
NBA (Basketball)

The Rockets-Thunder NBA Cup semifinal turned out to be a defensive showdown, which was to be expected

Kenrich Williams and Steven Adams in the 1st half

It was midway through the third quarter of the Oklahoma City-Houston NBA Cup semifinal on Saturday night. Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had just made a short jumper in the lane, and right after that, a time-out was called.

He needed a break.

Gilgeous-Alexander walked to midcourt, bent down, propped himself up with his fingertips, and took deep breaths. It was that kind of game. Given how the Rockets and Thunder have been playing defense all season, this kind of game was expected.

In the end, Oklahoma City won 111-96, with both teams shooting 41% combined. The immediate reward for the Thunder was two days off to recover. The bigger reward was a game against Milwaukee on Tuesday night for the NBA Cup, where winning could bring over $300,000 per player.

“That’s what defense does for you,” said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault, whose team has kept opponents to 41% shooting or worse a league-best 11 times this season, winning all of those games. “It keeps you in games.”

The Rockets-Thunder semifinal was a basketball game with some elements of football, rugby, hockey, and maybe even wrestling mixed in. It wasn’t unusual. That’s how they play: defense-first, tough, gritty, and physical.

They are the two best teams in the NBA for field-goal percentage defense. Oklahoma City came in at 42.7%, and Houston at 43.4%. They were also two of the top three teams in scoring defense.

Orlando was in first place entering Saturday with 103.7 points allowed per game, Oklahoma City was second at 103.8, and Houston was third at 105.9. By holding Houston to 96 points, the Thunder moved into the top spot.

Aaron Wiggins and Steven Adams in the 1st half

Houston finished with 36.5% shooting from the field, its second-worst performance of the season. When the Rockets shoot 41% or better, they have a 17-4 record. When they shoot below that, they’re 0-5.

“Sometimes it comes down to making shots,” said Rockets coach Ime Udoka. “Especially in the first half, we guarded well enough. But you put a lot of pressure on your defense when you’re not making shots.”

Even though scoring across the NBA is slightly down this season, about one point per game behind last season’s pace and two points behind the pace of the 2022-23 season, it’s still a great time for offense in the league. For example, Boston scored 51 points in one quarter earlier this season.

Saturday’s game was different from most. The halftime score was Rockets 42, Thunder 41. Neither team scored more than 50 points until Dillon Brooks’ 3-pointer for Houston gave the Rockets a 51-45 lead with 8:46 left in the third quarter.

Brooks is known as one of the toughest defenders in the game. Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the best scorers. They are teammates on Canada’s national team, and they had some one-on-one matchups during the game.

“It’s fun. It makes you better,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “That’s what this league is about, competing against the best in the world. Defensively, he is that for sure. And I like to think of myself that way offensively. He gives me a chance to really see where I’m at, a good test. I’d say I handled it pretty well.”

And he did. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 32 points, the fifth time this season someone scored that many against the Rockets. He has done it twice himself, and the Thunder scored 70 points in the second half to pull away.

“We knew that if we kept getting stops we would give ourselves a chance,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “And we did so.”

Categories
NBA (Basketball)

Top teams from the West face off in NBA Cup semifinals as the Thunder take on the Rockets

Oklahoma City Thunder and Toronto Raptors

The Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder may not be the most high-profile NBA Cup semifinal that the league hoped for, but it could be the best glimpse into the future of the Western Conference.

The Thunder are getting used to being the team that others are chasing this season after surprising everyone last year and earning the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

While they may not catch anyone off guard this year, they are still the deepest and most dangerous team in the conference, even without Chet Holmgren, who has been out for more than a month due to a hip injury.

For most teams, the “next man up” mindset is more of a wish, but for Oklahoma City, it’s a given. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the team, it’s not even a second thought. With the depth Oklahoma City has, it’s expected that others will step up.

The Thunder have gone 11-3 without Holmgren, and they are 19-5 for the season, on track to be the No. 1 seed again.

They made it to the NBA Cup semifinals as the top seed in the West, finishing 3-1 in group play. They secured a spot in Las Vegas by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 118-104 on Tuesday.

Houston Rockets vs San Antonio Spurs (NBA)

Gilgeous-Alexander doesn’t plan to leave Las Vegas empty-handed.

“It would mean a lot, this opportunity to win,” he said. “You play the game at a high level as a kid. You tie your shoes up and play AAU ball to win the tournament on the weekend. You go to college to try and win the NCAA Tournament. (Or even) the tournament at the beginning of the season, the Maui Invitational or whatever it’s called.

“You’re always trying to win. That’s my mindset. That’s my teammates’ mindset. We’re always trying to win.”

Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 30.2 points, ranking fourth in the league before Friday’s games, and 6.3 assists. Jalen Williams has also become a key player; the third-year forward is averaging 21.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game.

Isaiah Hartenstein has stepped into Holmgren’s role in the starting lineup with 11.6 points and 12.8 rebounds per game after making his Thunder debut on November 20.

The Rockets are in a similar position to last season’s Thunder, but their rise is even more surprising. While Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun have shown promise, they both struggled during their first few seasons in the league. Green, in particular, had trouble finding his rhythm.

Houston’s decision to stick with their young duo seems to be paying off. The Rockets are 17-8, second only to the Thunder in the West, and have won seven of their last 10 games. Green is leading the team with 19.2 points per game, while Sengun is averaging 18.8 points and 10.6 rebounds.

Jalen Green and head coach Stephen Silas shake hands after a score and a foul by Green against the New York Knicks during the first half

The Rockets earned the West’s No. 2 seed in knockout play by finishing 3-1 in the group stage. They advanced to Las Vegas with a thrilling but controversial 91-90 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, thanks to a loose-ball foul that sent Green to the line for the game-winning free throws with 3.5 seconds left.

It was a strong defensive performance from the Rockets, who are now one of the toughest defensive teams in the league. Saturday’s semifinal is another chance for them to prove themselves against a Thunder defense that many consider the best in the league.

“I think we’re the top two defenses,” said Rockets coach Ime Udoka. “They’re very stingy on that end and they do it in a different way. They’re one of the best at creating turnovers and drawing (players) into a crowd. They give up some things as well, but they really protect the paint at a high level.

“It’s an honor to get here, and we felt we did good in our group to get here. Now we just want to make some more noise while we’re here.”

Categories
NBA (Basketball)

The NBA Cup semifinal games in Las Vegas are set: Thunder vs. Rockets and Bucks vs. Hawks

Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers

Winning the NBA Cup won’t bring a championship parade to Oklahoma City, Houston, Atlanta, or Milwaukee. There is a trophy, some cash, and bragging rights, but not much else.

For the four teams left in the tournament, that’s enough.

The NBA Cup semifinals are on Saturday: Atlanta plays Milwaukee, and Houston faces Oklahoma City. These games will be held in Las Vegas, as will the championship game on Tuesday night.

“As a kid, you grow up, you watch Lakers versus Boston on TV. You watch Miami versus Cleveland. You watch big matchups and big games, and you dream about being there one day,” said Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “To be in this position is special. You don’t take it for granted.”

For most players in these NBA Cup semifinals, this is their first time on such a big stage. Only nine players from the Hawks, Thunder, Bucks, and Rockets have ever played in the NBA Finals.

“We’re a group that’s trying to develop an identity,” said Hawks coach Quin Snyder. “Having some success can help that.”

It’s not a huge surprise to see these teams in the final four. Oklahoma City was the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs last season, and if the season ended Friday, the Thunder would hold that seed again, just ahead of No. 2 Houston. In the East, the Bucks (winners in 11 of their last 14) and Hawks (winners in seven of their last eight) are some of the hottest teams right now.

Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks

“For a lot of guys who haven’t tasted the playoffs yet, it’s the closest thing to that in terms of intensity, physicality, and having something on the line,” said Rockets coach Ime Udoka about the NBA Cup. “Meaningful basketball is really good for our young guys. They haven’t had many of those games.”

The Bucks have players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton who have been to the NBA Finals and won. But reaching Las Vegas is a big achievement, even for them, considering Milwaukee started 2-8 this season.

“It’s just a lot on the line,” said Bucks guard Damian Lillard. “It requires you to focus. You’ve got to come and get the job done. So, I think in that way, it’s similar to a playoff experience, just that you’ve got to get the job done.”

For smaller-market teams, this is a chance to get more national TV coverage and possibly gain more fans. There are no Boston, New York, or Los Angeles teams in the final four.

“At the end of the day, you just want to win,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “But it’s pretty sweet to be highlighted and showcased in this way. Yeah, it’s what dreams are all about, and for them to come true is special.”

Categories
NBA (Basketball)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder to victory over the Mavericks in the NBA Cup

Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 39 points to help the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Dallas Mavericks 118-104 on Tuesday night in the Western Conference quarterfinals of the NBA Cup.

Oklahoma City will face either the Warriors or the Rockets in Las Vegas on Saturday, with the winner moving on to the championship game of the in-season tournament. Golden State and Houston will play each other in the semifinals on Wednesday.

The Thunder’s victory ended Dallas’ seven-game winning streak and was their fourth straight win.

Gilgeous-Alexander contributed heavily from the outside, making five of Oklahoma City’s season-high 20 3-pointers (the team attempted 50). He also grabbed eight rebounds and had five assists.

Defense played a key role for the Thunder, who scored 36 points from 19 Mavericks turnovers. Oklahoma City also limited Dallas stars Luka Doncic (16 points on 5-of-15 shooting) and Kyrie Irving (17 points on 7-of-14 shooting).

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and James Harden in the 2nd half

Doncic grabbed 11 rebounds, while Klay Thompson and Naji Marshall each scored 19 points for the Mavericks.

The Thunder took control in the third quarter, turning a three-point halftime lead into a 90-73 advantage going into the final 12 minutes. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 16 points in the third quarter, including nine points during a 13-2 run to start the period.

It was a 20-point game early in the fourth, with the Thunder leading 97-77 after a hook shot from Jalen Williams with 10:34 remaining.

Dallas responded with back-to-back 3-pointers from Irving as part of a 10-0 run, cutting the lead to 97-87. Later, the Mavericks reduced the deficit to 100-92 thanks to a 3-pointer from Olivier-Maxence Prosper with 7:50 left.

However, Oklahoma City scored the next 11 points to seal the win.

Williams added 18 points for the Thunder, who also got 11 points each from Luguentz Dort and Cason Wallace.

Oklahoma City led 57-54 at halftime. Doncic struggled in the first half, scoring only two points on 1-of-7 shooting.

Categories
NBA (Basketball)

The Mavericks and Thunder renew their rivalry as they face off in the NBA Cup quarterfinals

Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder

Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from the Oklahoma City Thunder are two of the NBA’s top stars. Both finished in the top three for the Most Valuable Player award last season, with Gilgeous-Alexander taking second place and Doncic coming in third.

On Tuesday, the Mavericks and Thunder will face off in the first round of the NBA Cup knockout stage.

This game is a rematch of last season’s second-round playoff series, which Dallas won 4-2.

Doncic has been in great form since recovering from a right wrist sprain that caused him to miss five games in late November. In the four games since his return, he is averaging 31.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game.

Doncic enters Tuesday’s game with two consecutive triple-doubles.

In Saturday’s win over the Toronto Raptors, Doncic scored 30 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and made 11 assists. This performance moved him past Wilt Chamberlain and James Harden, into seventh place on the NBA’s all-time triple-double list with 79.

“Talking about his skill set and filling up the stat sheet, he’s had two here, he can run them off,” said Dallas coach Jason Kidd. “We always expect him to have a triple-double, or sometimes we take him for granted. Right now, you can see that he’s starting to get into a groove.”

In last season’s playoff series, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 32.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.3 assists. Doncic averaged 24.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 8.7 assists, with a triple-double in each of the last three games of the series.

Shai Gilgeous Alexander reacts in the game

Gilgeous-Alexander has scored at least 30 points in six of his past seven games this season.

Oklahoma City has won seven of its last eight games, including three straight, while the Mavericks come into the game on a seven-game winning streak.

Tuesday’s game, which also counts in the regular-season standings, will be the second matchup between the two teams this season.

Doncic missed the Mavericks’ 121-119 win over Oklahoma City on Nov. 17 due to a bruised right knee. P.J. Washington had 27 points and a career-high 17 rebounds in that game for Dallas.

The game was a close one, which has become a regular pattern in this series. Six of the last nine regular-season games between the teams have been decided by fewer than 10 points.

The first meeting of the season was also one of the Thunder’s last games without Isaiah Hartenstein, a 7-footer who missed the first 15 games of the season due to a hand injury.

Since his return, Hartenstein has helped Oklahoma City adjust after losing Chet Holmgren. In the eight games since he came back, Hartenstein has averaged 11.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, a significant increase from his previous seasons where he averaged no more than 2.5 assists per game.

“He’s a phenomenal passer,” said teammate Alex Caruso about Hartenstein. “People don’t talk about him as a passer as a big man in the league. Of course, (Denver’s Nikola) Jokic is in a category of his own, but Hartenstein is still really impressive.”

For the Mavericks, P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall are questionable for Tuesday’s game due to illnesses. Jaden Hardy (right ankle sprain) and Maxi Kleber (illness) are confirmed to be out.

Washington was the only one of the four who played in Saturday’s win against Toronto.