NBA Cup Championship Picks, Predictions for Bucks vs. Thunder for NBA DFS
All eyes are on the 2024 NBA Cup Championship tonight, as the Bucks take on the Thunder to wrap up the in-season tournament. Below, we’ve got the top NBA picks and projections for the NBA Cup Championship tonight: Bucks vs. Thunder.
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NBA Cup Championship Picks, Predictions for Bucks vs. Thunder
Find our NBA Cup Championship preview, top player picks, and projections below for Tuesday’s NBA Cup Championship between the Bucks and Thunder. Find today’s full NBA DFS Projections on the PrizePicks app.
- Bucks C Brook Lopez 8.5 Points — More
- Bucks PF Giannis Anteokunpo 30.5 Points — More
- Thunder PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 32.5 Points — More
- NBA Cup Championship Prediction
Bucks vs. Thunder Game Preview
The Bucks remain one of the NBA’s top teams, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo. Defensively, however, they rank around the middle of the pack, sitting 12th in points allowed and 14th in rebounds allowed. Where they truly excel is in limiting opponents’ three-point efficiency, holding teams to just 25% from beyond the arc — good for a top-five ranking in the league.
Still, the Bucks struggle to contain opposing point guards. Matching up with Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could pose a serious challenge tonight, especially if Milwaukee isn’t at full strength.
Currently, Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo are listed as day-to-day, and Damian Lillard is managing a lingering calf injury. All three are expected to play, but may not be 100%.
On the other side, Oklahoma City fields one of the best defenses in the NBA, allowing a league-low 103 points per game and ranking top 10 in three-point defense (26% allowed). The Thunder’s stout defensive approach also clamps down on opposing bigs, limiting power forwards to just 19.9 points per game (5th in the NBA) and centers to 18 points per game (2nd in the NBA).
The Bucks’ offense could face serious hurdles against this formidable Thunder defense.
Bucks C Brook Lopez 9 Points — More
Bucks C Brook Lopez has historically performed well against the Thunder, having easily surpassed the 9-point projection in his last four games against the Thunder since 2022. In their most recent meeting, Lopez scored 18 points, and he’s coming off a 16-point performance against the Atlanta Hawks, suggesting he can thrive even outside the favorable matchup with Oklahoma City.
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Bucks PF Giannis Antetokounmpo 30.5 Points — More
Antetokounmpo himself has been nearly unstoppable, surpassing the 30.5-point projection in eight of his last 10 games. One of those exceptions came in a game against the Detroit Pistons where he played fewer than 30 minutes — an uncommon occurrence.
In his only matchup with the Thunder last year, he put up 30 points with 19 rebounds. Over his past nine games against Oklahoma City, he’s failed to reach 31 points number only twice.
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Thunder PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 32.5 Points — More
However, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may be the key factor in this NBA Cup Championship. He’s arguably the best player on the court in this matchup and an MVP-caliber talent. Facing a Milwaukee defense that ranks dead last against point guards — conceding an average of 28.5 points per game — could allow him to shine.
The Bucks also struggle to limit point guards in free throws, three-point percentage, and second-chance points, areas where Gilgeous-Alexander thrives. In a game that could feel like a championship preview, look for SGA to capitalize on this matchup against Damian Lillard’s turnstile defense.
NBA Cup Championship Prediction: Thunder def. Bucks
Taking the Milwaukee Bucks’ current health concerns into account — and considering that their greatest defensive vulnerability lies at the point guard position, where Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander thrives as both a scorer and facilitator — it places Milwaukee at a significant disadvantage in the NBA Cup Championship.
Expect the Thunder to capitalize on this matchup and secure the NBA Cup Championship tonight, proving that this young but talented Oklahoma City team is potentially championship contenders.
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