Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 118-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, scoring 39 points in their Western Conference quarter-final to secure a spot in the NBA Cup semi-finals. The Thunder, who set a season-high 20 three-pointers, were sparked by Gilgeous-Alexander's offensive performance, including five three-pointers, eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
After holding a three-point lead at halftime, Oklahoma City pulled away in the third quarter, extending their advantage to 90-73. The Mavericks were led by Klay Thompson and Naji Marshall, each contributing 19 points, while Luka Doncic was limited to just 16 points.
Oklahoma City now moves on to the Western Conference semi-finals, where they will face either the Golden State Warriors or the Houston Rockets in Las Vegas. The win highlighted Gilgeous-Alexander's dominance, further cementing his status as one of the league’s premier scorers. The Thunder's offense was too much for the Mavericks, whose shooting struggles in the second half ultimately proved costly.
In the Eastern Conference, Giannis Antetokounmpo powered the Milwaukee Bucks to a 114-109 win over the Orlando Magic, also securing a spot in the NBA Cup semi-finals. Antetokounmpo finished with 37 points, leading his team through a competitive battle.
Damian Lillard played a pivotal role down the stretch, tying the game with a step-back three-pointer with 52.2 seconds remaining, then contributing a lay-up and four free throws to seal the win. Lillard added 15 points in the fourth quarter, along with nine assists, making his performance crucial to the Bucks' success.
The Bucks now look ahead to their semi-final match-up, where they will face either the Atlanta Hawks or the New York Knicks. Reflecting on last year’s disappointment, Lillard emphasized the team’s desire to return to Las Vegas and finish what they started, aiming to improve on their previous semi-final loss to the Indiana Pacers in the inaugural NBA Cup.
ADD A COMMENT :