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Bucks vs. Thunder final score, results: Giannis Antetokounmpo’s triple-double leads Milwaukee to NBA Cup title

Behind an excellent performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo and a dominant second-half showing, the Bucks are winners of the second-ever NBA Cup. Milwaukee earned an impressive 97-81 win after outscoring Oklahoma City 46-33 in the final 24 minutes of play

Antetokounmpo was the standout of the night, recording a triple-double with 26 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists. Damian Lillard also impressed with 23 points, four rebounds and four assists.

The Thunder struggled mightily throughout the game. OKC finished the night shooting 5-of-32 (15.6%) from 3-point range, while leading scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was held to 21 points (on 8-of-24 shooting) and two assists. 

If you missed the action, The Sporting News tracked score updates, highlights, news, and more from the 2024 NBA Cup championship.

SN’s NBA HQ: Live NBA scores | Updated NBA standings | Full NBA schedule

Bucks vs. Thunder score

  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Bucks 27 24 26 20 97
Thunder 28 22 14 17 81

Bucks vs. Thunder live score, updates, highlights 

(All times Eastern.)

Final: Bucks 97, Thunder 81

10:56 p.m.: Under three minutes remain and Milwaukee leads 94-77.

The Thunder are back in action in two days and they’ve pulled their starters, seemingly conceding this one to the Bucks.

We’re minutes away from the Bucks becoming the second-ever NBA Cup champions.

10:49 p.m.: It’s really been the Bucks’ night.

Milwaukee leads by 16 with 5:01 remaining in regulation. The Bucks have had an answer for every Thunder attempt to make it interesting.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has tried to make things happen but he’s been limited to 21 points on 8-of-24 shooting and two assists. As a team, the Thunder are shooting 27-of-76 (35.5 percent) from the field and 4-of-29 (13.8 percent) from deep.

Credit to Milwaukee, this is the best performance it has put forth all season. The Bucks are five minutes away from the grand prize.

10:42 p.m.: The Bucks lead by 19 but Bobby Portis is whistled for a Flagrant 1.

The Thunder will get two free throws and possession of the ball with 8:23 remaining. If there were any time to make a run, it would be now.

Bucks 88, Thunder 69

10:35 p.m.: It’s looking spooky for the Thunder.

Gary Trent Jr. and Brook Lopez each drain 3s to put Milwaukee up by 17 early on in the fourth. With Giannis Antetokounmpo on the bench, the Milwaukee lead is still growing. That’s a bad sign for OKC.

Timeout Thunder. 10:01 remains.

Bucks 83, Thunder 66

End of third quarter: Bucks 77, Thunder 64

10:30 p.m.: Make it a 26-14 advantage for Milwaukee in the third quarter. After leading by one at the half, the Bucks take a 13-point lead into the final frame.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is flirting with a triple-double. He’s up to 26 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists in the game. Damian Lillard has also been great with 20 points, three rebounds and four assists.

The Thunder have missed 21 of their 24 3-point attempts. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is up to 19 points but he’s shooting 7-of-21 from the field. After their lowest-scoring quarter of the season, the Thunder will need a big fourth to make a run for the Cup.

10:27 p.m.: It’s still all Bucks here late in the third.

With Milwaukee up 10, Giannis Antetokounmpo gets an impressive block on Alex Caruso that ricochets off his face.

With Antetokounmpo on the bench, Gary Trent Jr. nails a 3 to make it a 13-point lead for Milwaukee.

Bucks 77, Thunder 64

10:20 p.m.: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is finding his form at the right time for the Thunder.

After entering the half with 10 points, Gilgeous-Alexander has scored nine points in the first eight minutes of the third. He’s up to 19 points after a pair of free throws that trimmed the deficit to seven.

Bucks 69, Thunder 62

10:13 p.m.: The Bucks are holding onto a double-digit lead as the game approaches the midway point of the third quarter.

It’s basically been all Milwaukee to start the second half. It has outscored Oklahoma City 16-7 in the third. Doc Rivers called a timeout to talk things over with 6:19 left in the third.

Bucks 67, Thunder 57

10:03 p.m.: Oklahoma City might not have an answer for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

With the smaller Jalen Williams guarding him, Antetokounmpo brought his total to 16 points in the game. As the two-time MVP gave a menacing look to the cameras, OKC head coach Mark Daignealut called for a timeout.

Bucks 59, Thunder 53

10:01 p.m.: The Bucks picked up where they left off with a pair of quick 3s to open the second half. OKC responded with a triple to cut the deficit to four points.

On the ensuing possession, Giannis Antetokounmpo picked up his third foul of the game. That will be something to monitor.

Bucks 57, Thunder 53

Halftime: Bucks 51, Thunder 50

9:57 p.m.: Halftime stats:

  Bucks Thunder
Points 51 50
Rebounds 24 23
Assists 14 7
Steals 0 5
Blocks 1 3
Turnovers 8 3
Field goals 19-43 (44.2%) 18-44 (40.9%)
3-point field goals 7-18 (38.9%) 1-17 (5.9%)
Free throws 6-9 (66.7%) 13-16 (81.2%)

9:45 p.m.: One half is in the books and Milwaukee takes a one-point lead into the locker room.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has paced the Bucks with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists in the first half. He’s also done it on efficient 6-of-9 shooting from the field.

Isaiah Hartenstein also has 14 points to go along with seven rebounds in the first half, doing so on perfect 5-of-5 shooting from the field.

The Thunder shot an abysmal 1-of-17 (5.9 percent) from 3-point range while the Bucks drained seven 3s at a 38.9 percent clip. In addition to the shooting difference, Milwaukee’s defense limited Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting.

Both teams should like where they are: Milwaukee has clearly executed its game plan and its working but OKC should be confident that it will get more from Gilgeous-Alexander and all of its 3-point shooters.

9:36 p.m.: The first half is winding down but tensions are starting to rise. With the money on the line, there were some extracurriculars between Bucks guard Andre Jackson Jr. and Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein.

Cooler heads prevailed and the game is headed to a timeout with under two minutes left. Milwaukee leads by one.

Bucks 47, Thunder 46

9:32 p.m.: Giannis Antetokounmpo is beginning to heat up.

The Thunder’s defense has been working on slowing Antetokounmpo down by committee but he’s finding ways to make an impact. After scoring six points in the first quarter, he’s quickly doubled that total during the last stretch of action.

An alley-oop dunk gives Giannis 12 points on the night.

Thunder 44, Bucks 43

9:22 p.m.: It’s a game of runs.

After falling behind by five points, the Thunder are on a 9-2 run to retake a two-point lead. We’re just five minutes into the quarter, meaning this trend will likely continue.

Thunder 39, Bucks 37

End of first quarter: Thunder 28, Bucks 27

9:08 p.m.: Alex Caruso sinks a triple at the buzzer but it appears he did not get it off on time. Officials will review but it looks like the Thunder will take a one-point lead into the second frame.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Hartenstein lead all scorers with 10 points apiece. For the Bucks, Damian Lillard has a team-high seven points while Giannis Antetokounmpo has scored six.

OKC shot 12-of-21 (57.1 percent) from the field but Milwaukee closed the gap by shooting 5-of-9 (55.6 percent) from 3-point range in the first frame.

This has the makings of a game that will continue to go back and forth.

8:58 p.m.: Make it an 8-0 run for the Bucks, who take their first lead of the game courtesy of a Damian Lillard 3.

Lillard’s got a team-high seven points (on 2-of-4 shooting) and Milwaukee has shot 4-of-7 from deep early on. OKC has missed all four of its 3-point attempts.

Timeout Thunder.

Bucks 22, Thunder 20

8:48 p.m.: These two teams are getting after it early!

Milwaukee and Oklahoma City have combined for 21 points through the first four minutes of action. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Isaiah Hartenstein have each scored six early points.

Thunder 12, Bucks 8 

8:43 p.m.: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets Oklahoma City on the board first with a smooth middy. The second-ever NBA Cup championship game is officially underway in Vegas.

Pregame

8:05 p.m.: Starting lineups are in.

Starting for the Bucks: Damian Lillard, Andre Jackson Jr., Taurean Prince, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez.

Starting for the Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Joe, Jalen Williams and Isaia Hartenstein.

7:15 p.m.: The man of the hour. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has arrived at T-Mobile Arena and, to no surprise, was red-carpet ready.

5:20 p.m.: The Bucks will likely be down a key player tonight. Khris Middleton has been downgraded to doubtful with a non-Covid illness.

Middleton made his season debut on Dec. 6 and has averaged 7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists over four games.

Bucks vs. Thunder start time

  • Date: Tuesday, Dec. 17
  • Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

The NBA Cup championship between the Bucks and Thunder will tip off shortly after 8:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Dec. 17. The game will be played from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

What channel is Bucks vs. Thunder on today?

  • Date: Tuesday, Dec. 17
  • TV channel: ABC

The Bucks-Thunder NBA Cuper championship game will be available to watch on ABC and ESPN+. You can also stream the event on Sling.

Sling is the home for sports fans, as it offers a wide range of channels. You can always cheer for your favorite teams with channels like ESPN, TBS, TNT, NFL Network, FS1, and more.

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