In a game for the NBA Cup final, the Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder face each other this Tuesday (12/17), at 10:30 pm (Brasília time). The duel takes place at the T-Mobile Arena, in Las Vegas (USA), on a neutral court.
The tournament brought together all 30 NBA teams, divided into six groups.
Who are the NBA Cup champions in history?
The 2024 edition is only the second held in history. In the first, in 2023, the title went to the Los Angeles Lakerswho beat the Indiana Pacers 123 to 109 in the final.
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How the Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder reach the NBA Cup Final
Bucks and Thunder reached the decision with 100% success in the Cup and owning the best Cup campaigns in the East and West, respectively.
The Milwaukee Bucks led Group B of the Eastern Conference with four wins in four games. In the quarterfinals, they eliminated the Orlando Magic. In the semis, he played for the Atlanta Hawks.
On the other hand, the Oklahoma City Thunder came first in group B with four wins in four games. In the quarters and semis, they beat the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets.
The Milwaukee Bucks come from three straight wins overall this season, being in 5th place in the Eastern Conference, with 14 wins and 11 losses.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are on a five-game winning streak this season. The team leads the Eastern Conference, with 20 wins and five losses.
There is also a private duel between two candidates for this season’s MVP award: Giannis Antetokounmpo, from the Bucks, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, from the Thunder.
Founded in 1968, the Bucks have two NBA titles, in 1971 and 2021. The Thunder, founded in 2008, have never won the NBA and have only one conference title, in 2012.
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Milwaukee Bucks x Oklahoma City Thunder: where to watch the NBA Cup final
The game between the Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder, in the NBA Cup final, will be broadcast on ESPN (closed TV), Disney+ (streaming), Amazon Prime Video (streaming) and NBA League Pass (streaming).
Milwaukee Bucks x Oklahoma City Thunder: onde assistir na TV e no streaming
- Date: Tuesday, December 17th
- Time: 10:30 pm (Brasília time)
- Where to watch: ESPN (closed TV), Disney+ (streaming), Amazon Prime Video (streaming) and NBA League Pass (streaming)
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Milwaukee Bucks x Oklahoma City Thunder: lineups
Probable starting five for the Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Brook Lopez, Taurean Prince and Andre Jackson Jr. Technical: Doc Rivers.
Probable Thunder starting quintet: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Isaiah Hartenstein, Jalen Williams, Luguentz Dort and Cason Wallace. Technical: Mark Daigneault.
What is the prize pool for the NBA Cup?
The players on the champion team will receive 514 thousand dollars (R$3.1 million) each. Vice athletes will pocket 205 thousand dollars (R$ 1.2 million). There is also a Cup MVP award (LeBron James won in 2023) and an ideal tournament team.
A special cup, different from the NBA trophy, will also be given to the winning team. The champions will also receive medals that simulate a basketball, with the description “NBA In-Season Tournament Champions” (NBA Mid-Season Tournament Champions), with the year of achievement.
Players from the teams defeated in the semis and quarterfinals also had bigger bills. For those eliminated in the semis, the NBA paid US$103,000 (R$623,000) per athlete. Those who fell in the quarterfinals earned US$51.5 thousand (R$311 thousand).
What does the NBA Cup trophy look like?
The NBA Cup trophy was designed by jewelry company Tiffany & Co., in collaboration with artist Victor Solomon. It stands 23 centimeters tall and weighs 15.8 kg, and is made of sterling silver, coated in 24-karat gold and black ceramic.
The cup has 30 net openings at the base, representing the 30 NBA teams. There are also two rods, which symbolize the two finalist teams.
