With a 30-team field of hopefuls now whittled down to a final four, the NBA-watching world now trains its attention on Las Vegas. Welcome to the semifinals of the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup. Grab a beverage, sit down, stay a spell; Trae’s got a hot hand.
Two teams from each conference — the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets from the West, the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks from the East — will square off in a Saturday doubleheader to determine which squads will have the chance to compete for the NBA Cup. Let’s set the table for what’s sure to be a thrilling conclusion by revisiting how we got here and taking a look at some things to keep an eye on in each of our two semifinal tilts:
Where we left off
In the East:
Playing without injured leading scorers Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, the Magic mounted about as valiant an effort as you could ask for against Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. Orlando dominated the offensive glass, forced 16 Milwaukee turnovers and led the top-seeded and favored Bucks in the final minute behind a career-high 32 points from guard Jalen Suggs.
But after a clutch triple and driving finish by Damian Lillard put Milwaukee back on top, Suggs came up just short on two long balls — one for the lead, the other for a tie — that allowed the Bucks to finish off a 114-109 win, stay undefeated in the tournament and punch their tickets to Vegas.
They’ll face the Hawks, who took down the East-leading Cavaliers and Celtics en route to winning East Group C … and who kept their tournament run alive by defanging another top offense at Madison Square Garden.
The revamped Hawks surround All-Star point guard Trae Young with a ton of size: centers Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu stand 6-foot-10; forwards Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher and De’Andre Hunter all go 6-foot-8; ascendant defensive menace Dyson Daniels flanks Trae at 6-foot-7. Atlanta brought all that height, length and athleticism to bear on the Knicks, holding Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and the rest of New York’s red-hot offense to just 46 points on 19-for-49 shooting in the second half while owning the offensive glass, grabbing 14 of their season-high 22 offensive rebounds after intermission.
That applied physicality, combined with Young’s patient dissection of New York’s coverage to create open look after open look, turned a game the Knicks had once led by double-digits into a 108-100 win for the visitors, another chance for Young to tweak the MSG faithful …
… and an opportunity for the upstart Hawks to take aim at another favorite in pursuit of a big gold trophy and an even bigger bag.
In the West:
The Thunder made two major offseason moves to fix the flaws revealed during their loss to the Mavericks in the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs: signing Isaiah Hartenstein to shore up the weakness on the glass that Mavs centers Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II exploited in the postseason, and flipping the shaky-shooting-and-defending Josh Giddey for Alex Caruso, an All-Defensive Teamer fresh off a 40% season from deep. Both moves paid off Tuesday: Hartenstein led Oklahoma City to a 17-7 edge on the offensive glass; Caruso knocked down a pair of 3s while dishing four assists and snaring two steals off the bench; and a suffocating Thunder defense harassed Mavericks superstars Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving into just 33 combined points.
That’s six fewer than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had all by his damn self:
Behind a 39-point masterclass from SGA, a season-high 20 3-pointers, and a snare-drum-tight defensive effort that held the Mavs — who were missing starting forward/OKC killer P.J. Washington — to their second-worst offensive performance of the season, the Thunder cruised to a 118-104 win to secure a spot in the semis … where they’ll be joined by the Rockets, following a controversial conclusion to Houston’s Wednesday slugfest against the Warriors.
Whether or not you agree with the referees’ late-game decisions on the scramble drill that ended with Gary Payton II committing Golden State’s 15th turnover and Jalen Green hitting two game-winning free throws — Steve Kerr sure as hell didn’t — the Rockets deserve credit for getting off the mat against the more experienced Stephen Curry- and Draymond Green-led Dubs, finishing the game on a 9-1 run, and leaning on their elite defense to punctuate it with a stop and close out a 91-90 squeaker.
Back in April, the Warriors edged out the surging Rockets, ending Houston’s hopes of making the play-in tournament; eight months later, Ime Udoka’s young charges returned the favor, setting up what promises to be a bruising matchup between two of the youngest and best defensive teams in the NBA.
What to know about the semifinal matchups
(1) BUCKS VS. (3) HAWKS — SATURDAY, 4:30 P.M. ET (TNT)
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Bucks: East Group B winner, East No. 1 seed, 5-0 record, +55 point differential (W vs. Raptors, W vs. Pacers, W at Heat, W at Pistons, W vs. Magic)
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Hawks: East Group C winner, 4-1 record, +23 point differential (W at Celtics, W vs. Wizards, L at Bulls, W vs. Cavaliers, W at Knicks)
When these two teams met last week, Giannis and Dame combined for 56 points on just 28 field goal attempts … and Atlanta still won by 15 on the road, blitzing a Bucks team that was on the second half of a back-to-back and lacked any juice beyond what its two superstars provided.
“I thought we were dead-legged most of the game,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers told reporters after the contest.
“We made some poor decisions due to fatigue, resulting in subpar execution. Our passes were delayed.”
This time, the Hawks will not have the rest advantage. Milwaukee will have forward Khris Middleton back, although on a minutes restriction, after missing the first 21 games of the season due to ankle surgery. Middleton is still getting back into form, shooting 5-for-20 in his first 63 minutes. However, the Bucks have performed well in those minutes, outscoring opponents by 23 points, especially excelling in half-court offense with Middleton providing playmaking options, particularly to Giannis.
The Hawks will need to bring the same energy they did in their previous win against the Knicks, which mirrored their performance in the win over Milwaukee. Atlanta forced the Bucks into a season-high 18 turnovers, leading to 30 fast-break points and dominating on the offensive glass, converting second chances into 19 points. This resulted in 64 points in the paint for Atlanta, the second-highest the Bucks have allowed this season.
If the Bucks lose the possession battle against a confident Hawks team led by Trae Young and Cam Reddish, they could be in danger of facing another upset. Young, along with the emerging talent of Reddish, have been performing well, and the Bucks need to step up their defense to avoid another loss.
In the upcoming game between the Thunder and Rockets, two of the NBA’s youngest rosters with strong defenses will face off. Oklahoma City has received more attention for their defensive prowess, comparable to the 2003-04 Spurs, while the Rockets have also been solid defensively. Both teams have split their previous meetings, with the Thunder securing a blowout win thanks to Chet Holmgren’s strong performance. Houston exacted revenge two weeks ago in a thrilling 119-116 showdown against Oklahoma City. The game featured 16 ties, seven lead changes, and a standout performance by Fred VanVleet, who scored 38 points in just 35 minutes. The intense final moments mirrored a playoff atmosphere, showcasing the competitive spirit of both teams.
Since Isaiah Hartenstein returned to the lineup, the Thunder have only suffered one loss. With Hartenstein on the court, Oklahoma City has dominated opponents, boasting a 14.6 points per 100 possessions advantage. Additionally, they have excelled in rebounding, grabbing 72.4% of opponents’ missed shots with Hartenstein in the lineup, solidifying their defense.
Hartenstein will face a tough challenge against the Rockets, who lead the NBA in offensive rebounding rate. Alperen Şengün, a key player for Houston, has been instrumental in their success. The young talent has impressed with his performance against top defenses and is among the few players averaging 18 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists per game this season.
Both teams possess strong defenses, setting the stage for a competitive matchup. Houston’s ability to win the possession battle consistently has propelled them to an above-average offense, despite ranking lower in traditional shooting statistics. However, the Thunder pose a threat with their efficient shooting and turnover-forcing capabilities, led by MVP candidate Gilgeous-Alexander.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s stellar play will be a focal point in Saturday’s game. The Rockets’ defense, led by Dillon Brooks, will aim to contain the star player and disrupt Oklahoma City’s offensive rhythm. The outcome of the semifinal matchup will likely hinge on which team can execute their game plan effectively and make crucial shots down the stretch.
The winners of the semifinal games will advance to the NBA Cup championship game, which will be broadcast on ABC. The championship game is the culmination of the tournament, offering a significant payout to the victorious team. Players have the opportunity to earn substantial bonuses based on their performance throughout the tournament, with the championship team taking home the largest share of the prize pool.
In conclusion, the NBA Cup presents a unique opportunity for teams to compete in a high-stakes tournament with substantial rewards on the line. As the tournament reaches its climax, the intensity and excitement of the games are sure to captivate fans and players alike. sentence: The cat is sleeping peacefully on the windowsill. sentence: He decided to go for a run despite the rain.
Despite the rain, he chose to go for a run.