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Gregg Popovich’s encouraging assertion about his well being and imminent return to the sidelines made my day yesterday. Test it out.
NBA Cup Closing
Bucks and Thunder sq. off for supremacy
As soon as upon a Nov. 10, the Bucks have been 2-8 and regarded utterly rudderless. It didn’t matter if Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard have been taking part in nicely. This workforce couldn’t win. Then, NBA Cup group play started. Since then, the Bucks have received 12 of their final 15 video games and at the moment are 14-11, good for fifth within the East. In the meantime, the Thunder (20-5), whom the Bucks will meet within the NBA Cup closing tonight, have been dominating all season lengthy. Tonight will trace at which of those two trajectories is probably the most sustainable. (And let’s not overlook about that $500,000 prize for every participant on the successful workforce!)
How’d the Bucks get right here? Milwaukee went 4-0 in East Group B, securing the victory on the ultimate night time of group play by taking down the then-3-0 Pistons. From there, they survived a detailed name with the Magic to get to Las Vegas. Within the semifinal, they beat the Hawks 110-102 to earn a spot in tonight’s recreation.
How’d the Thunder get right here? OKC wanted just a little assist to win West Group B. It went 3-1 however misplaced to San Antonio in group play. On the ultimate night time of it, the Thunder beat Utah, however they wanted Phoenix to take down the Spurs in an effort to advance. Then, they used the most effective protection within the league to stifle the Mavericks to earn their journey to Vegas, and did it once more within the semifinal to beat Houston 111-96.
The Cup work continues 💪 pic.twitter.com/drPyet7nQe
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 17, 2024
Any vital accidents? Seems to be like Milwaukee is wholesome. OKC remains to be with out Chet Holmgren, who remains to be a minimum of a couple of weeks away.
What’s the important thing for Milwaukee? It has turn out to be type of cliche in in the present day’s NBA to color it this manner, however 3-point capturing would be the key. The Bucks make 42 p.c of their 3-pointers in wins, however that determine drops to 34.7 p.c in losses. Giannis dominating the paint and forcing the Thunder’s protection to depart shooters open will probably be very important to organising sufficient offense to crack this OKC opposition. Of their few losses up to now, the Thunder have been lit up from 3.
What’s the important thing for OKC? Transition recreation. The Thunder rating almost 23 factors per recreation off opponent turnovers. That’s a reasonably ridiculous quantity. On the flip aspect, they will’t let Giannis get out in transition for simple scores. If the Thunder can get again on protection to cease momentum, and pressure turnovers to get fast, simple factors, they’ll possible blow the Bucks out.
Who’s the favourite? The Thunder are -200 to win the sport and 4.5-point favorites. The Bucks are +165 to win the sport. All odds courtesy of BetMGM.
What are the Cup MVP odds? Additionally per BetMGM, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the favourite to win NBA Cup MVP at -175. Then, there’s Giannis (+200), Dame (+700) and Jalen Williams (+3500). If you happen to ask anybody on the Thunder, although, don’t be stunned if Williams wins it.
Who advantages probably the most from successful? The Bucks. I believe they want some form of unifying image to indicate simply how good they are often at their peak. It’s important to them staying on monitor and bringing the function gamers in control to attempt to get to a contending degree. If the Thunder lose, they received’t have any focus shaken.
Prediction: Thunder by 10. I do suppose the Bucks have it in them to be a lot better, even with this turnaround. However OKC has the most effective protection within the league and is possibly the most effective total workforce.
Learn how to watch: 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC or Fubo (attempt without spending a dime).
The Final 24
How bizarre is a mid-December journey to Vegas?
🏀 LeBron feeling good. The Lakers (14-12) star’s temporary time away appears to have achieved the job for him. All the time use your PTO.
🎤 Amazon delivers. Taylor Rooks would be the lead host of NBA protection for the streamer. Richard Deitsch with the main points.
🎰 Vegas, anybody? Joe Vardon talked to the NBA Cup closing groups in regards to the newly coveted random Vegas journey in December. It’s nonetheless one thing for gamers to regulate to.
Rank ‘Em!
Prime three, center three, backside three
It’s Tuesday! You already know what which means: We’re again to sorting by way of the most effective and worst groups within the NBA with some good, old school rating! However we wouldn’t simply depart you with the top-three and bottom-three groups within the NBA. We additionally provide the controversial center three — workforce Nos. 14, 15 and 16. (Listed below are this week’s NBA Energy Rankings from Regulation Murray, if you wish to do a deep dive.)
Prime three: Thunder (20-5), Celtics (21-5), Cavaliers (22-4)
Whereas I believe the Celtics have the best ceiling and acknowledge the Cavs have the most effective document, the Thunder have been the most effective workforce within the NBA this season. They’ve the third-best document amongst these groups, however their web score (plus-12.1 per 100 possessions) is extra dominant than final season’s Celtics (plus-11.7) and any of these Kevin Durant Warriors groups. Solely the 1971 Bucks, 1972 Lakers and 1996 Bulls have been extra dominant than this model of the Thunder.
Center three: Warriors (14-11), Clippers (15-12), Warmth (13-11)
It wasn’t that way back we have been utilizing this area to debate the Warriors as title contenders. Now, we’re questioning how rapidly Dennis Schröder may help regular their offense when Steph Curry isn’t on the market. Golden State is simply 2-8 since its 12-3 begin. The Clippers have hit a troublesome stretch of their schedule and simply used the Jazz to finish a three-game shedding streak. However eight of their subsequent 10 are powerful and on the highway. The Warmth are someplace in the course of the league and making an attempt to determine if the Jimmy Butler period ought to finish earlier than the commerce deadline.
Backside three: Pelicans (5-22), Jazz (5-20), Wizards (3-21)
There isn’t any turnaround for any of those groups. We already knew that in regards to the Wizards and Jazz. (Not less than Utah has some shiny spots, although). Perhaps individuals held out hope New Orleans may get again into this, nevertheless it’s not occurring. The Pelicans have simply missed too many gamers and are in too deep of a gap to flee. Now, we’re these groups and questioning in the event that they’ll jettison some veteran gamers to squads with reasonable hopes of successful. We’d want to vary this to prime three, center three and second-to-last trio simply to get some new blood in right here.
About Final Night time
The Kings and Nuggets had a wild recreation
If you happen to gave up on this recreation early final night time, you tousled. Sure, Sacramento coach Mike Brown known as a number of timeouts within the first 5 minutes of the sport due to how badly the Kings (13-14) have been getting demolished by the Nuggets (14-10). Sure, Denver was up 41-21 after the primary quarter, however the Kings got here roaring again. They outscored the Nuggets 82-55 over the following two intervals to take a seven-point lead into the fourth quarter. That’s when issues ratcheted as much as an 11.
Add it to the “Jamal Murray Clutch Buckets” file 🗂 pic.twitter.com/DRNL1eLnVk
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 17, 2024
With the Kings up 117-109 as 4:25 remained within the recreation, Russell Westbrook missed a 3-point shot. Denver didn’t miss a shot the remainder of the sport, and the Kings barely missed. This was the motion of the ultimate 75 seconds of the competition:
Nikola Jokić hit a nine-foot shot within the lane. Nuggets up 123-122.
De’Aaron Fox then made the identical actual shot. Kings up 124-123.
Jamal Murray nailed a pull-up eight-footer. Nuggets up 125-124.
Fox knocked down a 3. Kings up 127-125.
Jokić hit a 3-pointer for Denver to steer once more. Nuggets up 128-127.
Sacramento’s DeMar DeRozan drove the baseline to dunk. Kings up 129-128.
Murray and Jokić ran numerous two-man recreation for a Murray go-ahead 17-footer. Nuggets up 130-129.
DeRozan missed a five-footer with 1.2 seconds left. Nuggets maintain on to win 130-129.
That’s seven lead adjustments within the closing eight possessions, and DeRozan ought to have made that shot to place Sacramento up by one. It was absurd shot-making by each groups within the clutch – possibly probably the most enjoyable recreation of the season. Go discover the ultimate 5 minutes and dive in.
Right here’s what else occurred final night time:
Pistons 125 (11-16), Warmth 124 (13-11), (OT): With 5:39 left in regulation, the Pistons led 112-96 and have been cruising to a house win. The Warmth closed out the quarter on an 18-2 run capped off by a wild Tyler Herro 3-pointer to tie it with 5.1 seconds left. We went to OT, and the Warmth have been main 122-114 with 2:14 left. Cade Cunningham then discovered Tim Hardaway Jr. for 3 straight 3-pointers to go up 123-122 with 1:10 left. THJ had a horrendous inbound turnover because the Pistons have been up by one with 16 seconds left, however the Warmth couldn’t rating on a number of pictures. Cunningham completed with 20 factors, 18 assists and 11 rebounds to beat Jimmy Butler’s 35 factors, 19 rebounds, 10 assists and 4 steals.
76ers 121 (8-16), Hornets 108 (7-19): No Joel Embiid (what else is new?) on this one, however Tyrese Maxey lit up the Hornets for 40 factors. Paul George had 33 factors because the Sixers cruised to a straightforward win. Philly may use some simple wins.
Bulls 122 (12-15), Raptors 121 (7-20): Chicago weathered a late comeback by Toronto to seize the highway win. Nikola Vučević led the best way with 24 factors. RJ Barrett had 32 factors and 9 assists for the Raptors.
Cavs 130 (23-4), Nets 101 (10-16): Seven completely different Cavs scored in double figures, and this one was over early. Cleveland led 72-40 at halftime and by no means actually regarded again. Brooklyn may need numerous these video games quickly. Hey, Ben Simmons performed 31 minutes!
Clippers 144 (15-12), Jazz 107 (5-20): James Harden had 41 factors on 11-of-17 capturing in 31 minutes. At one level, with the Clippers up 40 within the fourth quarter, I questioned if they may insert three followers into the sport for 3 minutes and stay up 20.
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(Prime picture: David Dow / Getty Photos )
