Bucks Hold Off Magic to Advance to NBA Cup Semi-Finals
AFP/APP
Los Angeles: Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 37 points to lead the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in a hard-fought 114-109 victory over the depleted but determined Orlando Magic in the quarter-finals of the NBA Cup on Tuesday.
Damian Lillard added 15 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, along with nine assists, as the Bucks battled through a tough challenge from Orlando, despite the absence of injured stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner for the Magic.
Antetokounmpo also contributed seven rebounds and blocked four shots, while Lillard sealed the win with a dunk to give the Bucks a 108-107 lead with 32.6 seconds remaining.
After Jalen Suggs of Orlando missed a three-pointer, Lillard added two free throws to extend the Bucks’ lead to three points with 9.1 seconds left. Both Antetokounmpo and Lillard hit additional free throws in the final moments to clinch the victory.
“We fought for this one,” said Lillard, reflecting on the team’s goals for the final stage in Las Vegas. “We didn’t have the greatest experience there last year. So I think all of us are thinking (about) going back and finishing what we started last year and doing it right this time.”
Jalen Suggs delivered a career-high 32 points and pulled down nine rebounds for Orlando, who took an aggressive start and led 33-25 after the first quarter. Suggs also played a pivotal role in the Magic’s defense, recording three of the team’s seven steals in the opening period.
Milwaukee recovered to lead 60-59 at halftime, with Lillard assisting Antetokounmpo for an alley-oop dunk to cap a 7-0 Bucks run before the break.
After a back-and-forth third quarter, the Bucks held an 80-72 advantage heading into the final period. Despite swapping the lead four more times in the fourth, the Bucks ultimately came out on top.
The Bucks now advance to the semi-finals of the NBA Cup for the second consecutive year. They will face either the New York Knicks or Atlanta Hawks for a spot in the final.
Later on Tuesday, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder faced Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks in a highly anticipated Western quarter-final.
The Mavericks entered the game on a seven-game winning streak, bolstered by Doncic’s impressive return from a wrist injury, where he averaged 31 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game.
The quarter-finals conclude on Wednesday, with the Knicks hosting the Hawks and the Houston Rockets facing the Golden State Warriors. The semi-finals will take place on Saturday in Las Vegas, where the final is scheduled for December 17.
