IGINIYA ni Giannis Antetokounmpo ang Milwaukee Bucks sa NBA Cup final, kung saan makakaharap nila si Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at ang Oklahoma City Thunder para sa korona.
Nagbuhos si Greek star Antetokounmpo ng 32 points at humugot ng 14 rebounds upang pangunahan ang Bucks laban sa Atlanta Hawks, 110-102, habang tumabo si Canadian guard Gilgeous-Alexander ng game-high 32 points upang pamunuan ang Thunder kontra Houston 111-96, sa semifinals sa Las Vegas.
Magsasalpukan ang Bucks at Thunder para sa korona sa Martes sa Las Vegas.
“I just wanted to be aggressive through all the ups and downs, highs and lows, and it paid off,” sabi ni Gilgeous-Alexander. “Hopefully we can do the same thing on Tuesday.
“If we play defense, we give ourselves a chance every night. We just have to play hard, play together and have fun.”
Nagdagdag din si NBA scoring leader Antetokounmpo ng 9 assists, 4 blocks at 1 steal habang bumuslo ng 10-of-15 mula sa floor at 12-of-18 mula sa free-throw line.
“We got stops. That was the most important thing,” ani Antetokounmpo. “They were feeling comfortable, getting to their spots. We were able to disrupt their offense.
“We were moving the ball, playing team basketball, getting to our spots, knocking down a few shots down the stretch.
That’s why we were able to get the win.”
Ang Bucks ay nakakuha rin ng 25 points mula kay Damian Lillard at 16 kay Brook Lopez habang nanguna si Trae
Young para sa Atlanta na may 35 points, 10 assists at 7 seven rebounds.
“I didn’t force it because Giannis was getting downhill early,” ani Lillard. “I was moving the ball, they were giving me a lot of attention and guys were getting open looks. I knew eventually I’d get opportunities and they would go in, and they did.”
Samantala, bumuslo si Gilgeous-Alexander ng 8-of-21 mula sa floor, 2-of-6 mula sa 3-point range, nagsalpak ng 14-of-15 free throws at nagdagdag ng 8 rebounds, 6 assists at 5 steals upang pangunahan ang NBA Western Conference leader Oklahoma City kontra Houston.
“We stayed with our principles,” wika ni Gilgeous-Alexander. “We knew we would be able to get enough shots and kick it. We focused on that the whole night to give ourselves a chance and that’s what happened.”
Abante ang Rockets sa 42-41 sa half time, kung saan nalimitahan ng depensa ng Houston ang Oklahoma City sa pinakamababang first-half total nito sa kasalukuyan ngayong season.
Subalit kumamada si Gilgeous-Alexander ng 12 points sa third quarter at napantayan ng Thunder ang kanilang pinakamalaking kalamangan sa puntong iyon sa 75-69 papasok sa fourth quarter at lumayo sa pagtatapos.