Bucks vs. Thunder Prediction, Pick Against the Spread, Latest Odds for NBA Cup Final
The Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder will square off on Tuesday night in the final of the NBA Cup. Can Giannis Antetokounmp and the Bucks get the job done, or will it be Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder who emerge victorious in Las Vegas? Find out who Matt McCuen is backing in his Bucks vs. Thunder prediction for the NBA Cup Final.
Matt McCuen - December 17, 2024, 5:48 AM EST
4 minBucks vs. Thunder Prediction, Pick Against the Spread, Latest Odds for NBA Cup Semifinal
The Milwaukee Bucks and the Oklahoma City Thunder will clash for tonight's NBA Cup Final, with the winner crowned as the champions of the mid-season tournament and players from that team awarded $500k each.
The losing players will still get a decent payday for making it this far, with each set to make $200k.
Winnings aside, this matchup could very well be an early NBA Championship preview.
The Bucks roll into this contest with a record of 14-11. After a brutal start to the season, the team has become one of the hottest in basketball, having won 12 of their last 15.
The hot turnaround has taken head coach Doc Rivers off the hot seat, as Milwaukee is playing its best basketball of the young season.
To get here, the Bucks defeated the Orlando Magic in the quarterfinals and Atlanta Hawks in the semifinals. They team has won their last three straight games.
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Bucks vs. Thunder Odds
Bucks vs. Thunder Date, Time, and Where To Watch
- Date: December 17, 2024
- Time: 8:30 pm ET
- Where To Watch: ABC
Bucks vs. Thunder Prediction
Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the team with 32.7 points per game and 11.5 rebounds, while veterans Dame Lillard and Bobby Portis have averaged 25.7 and 13.1 points per game, respectively. Lillard also boasts a team-best 7.5 assists, while Portis has averaged 7.7 rebounds.
On average, the Bucks score 113.3 points per game.
Looking over on the Thunder side of the matchup, Oklahoma City enters the final with a record of 20-5 and came into the year as the betting favorite to win the NBA Championship.
So far, OKC has lived up to those expectations, as according to DraftKings the team remains atop the odds to win it all.
As one of the youngest teams in the NBA, the question will be whether this Thunder team can step up in clutch games and the postseason.
Having won five straight games, Oklahoma City defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the quarterfinals and Houston Rockets in the semifinals to punch its ticket to the final.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder with 30.3 points per game and 6.3 assists. Other team leaders include former Santa Clara star Jalen Williams, who's averaged 21.7 points and a team-high 6.1 rebounds, and Chet Holmgren, who's averaged 16.4 points per game and 8.7 boards. However, Holmgren hasn't played a game for OKC since November 10th.
Coming in higher than its NBA Cup Final opponents, the Thunder score 115.6 points per game.
Bucks vs. Thunder Pick
- Pick: Milwaukee Bucks +5 -112 Get oddschecker+ right now for just $9.99 per month. Don't miss out on this December deal!
The Bucks will compete and keep this game close tonight, and I anticipate a back-and-forth game that will favor the underdog. Milwaukee is one of the hottest teams in the NBA and is getting too many points in this position.
Let's stay hot on the hardwood!
