(UPDATE) <\/span>LOS ANGELES<\/strong> \u2014 A dominating performance by Giannis Antetokounmpo on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) led the Milwaukee Bucks into the NBA Cup finals, where they will face Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder for the title.<\/p>\r\r\r<\/figcaption>\r<\/figure>\r\r
Greek star Antetokounmpo scored 32 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to spark the Bucks over the Atlanta Hawks, 110-102, while Canadian guard Gilgeous-Alexander netted a game-high 32 points to lead the Thunder over Houston 111-96 in the semifinals at Las Vegas.<\/p>\r\r
The Bucks and Thunder will meet for the crown on Tuesday in Las Vegas.<\/p>\r\r
\"I just wanted to be aggressive through all the ups and downs, highs and lows, and it paid off,\" said Gilgeous-Alexander. \"Hopefully we can do the same thing on Tuesday.<\/p>\r\r
\"If we play defense, we give ourselves a chance every night. We just have to play hard, play together and have fun.\"<\/p>\r\r
NBA scoring leader Antetokounmpo also added nine assists, four blocks and a steal while shooting 10-of-15 from the floor and 12-of-18 from the free-throw line.<\/p>\r\r
\"We got stops. That was the most important thing,\" Antetokounmpo said. \"They were feeling comfortable, getting to their spots. We were able to disrupt their offense.<\/p>\r\r
\"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.\"<\/p>\r\r
The Bucks also had 25 points from Damian Lillard and 16 more from Brook Lopez while Trae Young led Atlanta with 35 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.<\/p>\r\r
\"I didn't force it because Giannis was getting downhill early,\" Lillard said. \"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.\"<\/p>\r\r
The Bucks, who made an unbeaten run to last year's inaugural semifinals of the in-season tournament before losing to Indiana, were the only team to make a return trip to this year's last four.<\/p>\r\r
\"This was a big game. Redeem ourselves for last year against this great Atlanta team,\" Milwaukee's Khris Middleton said. \"It was great. It was a back and forth game but to get a win after a tough tournament and close it out the way we did was great.\"<\/p>\r\r
They were inspired by Antetokounmpo and his hunger after last year's Cup near-miss.<\/p>\r\r
After a 2-8 start to the campaign, the Bucks have gone 12-3 since.<\/p>\r\r
Two Jalen Johnson dunks late in the third quarter gave the Hawks an 83-82 lead entering the fourth.<\/p>\r\r
The game stayed on a knife's edge until Antetokounmpo had six points in a 7-1 Bucks run for a 103-96 lead with 3:13 to play.<\/p>\r\r
Young answered with two free throws and a jumper but Lopez scored to give Milwaukee a 105-100 edge and Lillard's floater from the free-throw line sealed Atlanta's fate.<\/p>\r\r
Gilgeous-Alexander shot 8-of-21 from the floor, 2-of-6 from 3-point range, sank 14-of-15 free throws and added eight rebounds, six assists and five steals to spark NBA Western Conference leader Oklahoma City over Houston.<\/p>\r\r
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(UPDATE) LOS ANGELES — A dominating performance by Giannis Antetokounmpo on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) led the Milwaukee Bucks into the NBA Cup finals, where they will face Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder for the title.
Greek star Antetokounmpo scored 32 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to spark the Bucks over the Atlanta Hawks, 110-102, while Canadian guard Gilgeous-Alexander netted a game-high 32 points to lead the Thunder over Houston 111-96 in the semifinals at Las Vegas.
