Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Bucks win NBA Cup, but leave champagne on ice

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Tuesday, 17 December 2024 22:39

LAS VEGAS -- After finishing his postgame news conference, his NBA Cup MVP award to his left and a smile across his face, Giannis Antetokounmpo continued to soak in the moment.

"Oh man, what a feeling," he said. "What a great feeling. I'll see you guys again, I promise."

As he walked down the hallway toward the locker room, he continued. "What a great feeling. What a great feeling."

The Milwaukee Bucks had just won the 2024 NBA Cup on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena with a dominant 97-81 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder and Antetokounmpo was selected MVP, adding to an already lengthy résumé of accolades, including Finals MVP, two-time league MVP and NBA champion.

But the Bucks left the boxes of champagne provided by the NBA untouched after the game. They skipped the traditional postgame locker room celebration for a more subdued scene, with players bopping along to music and sipping drinks at their locker.

"Last time I drank a little bit of champagne, when we won the championship [in 2021], I had like a full body cramp," Antetokounmpo, who finished with a 26-point, 19-rebound, 10-assist triple double, said with a laugh.

Two members of the Bucks organization, assistant coach Darvin Ham and forward Taurean Prince, were members of the Los Angeles Lakers last season when they won the inaugural NBA Cup. The Lakers celebrated with a champagne shower after their victory but struggled after the tournament, dropping 10 of their next 13 games.

"It's tough," Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. "You come out of this and you're back to the grind."

So the Bucks elected to skip the full celebration, but that does not mean they didn't savor the moment. In fact, Antetokounmpo, who said he does not drink, implored the team to celebrate the accomplishment.

"There has to be," he said. "This has been a great trip. This has been a trip for six days everybody has been locked in, on time for the film sessions, so focused on the walkthroughs. At practice we were able to be so sharp."

That focus showed up throughout the NBA Cup as Milwaukee won all seven of its games. And it was on further display during a dominant defensive effort Tuesday night, as the Bucks held the Thunder to a season-low 81 points, including 31 points in the second half.

Milwaukee's defense produced team season bests in points allowed (81), field goal percentage (33.7%) and 3-point percentage (15.6%).

"We've shown the team we started the season as, is not the team that we are now. And it was never who we truly were. Just got off to a tough start."
Bucks guard Damian Lillard

"I definitely think we made a statement defensively," Prince said.

After beginning the season with a 2-8 record, the Bucks have bounced back, beating the team with the best record in the Western Conference in the process. Rivers said it was the kind of win that "reminds us we can beat anybody."

"We've shown the team we started the season as, is not the team that we are now," said Bucks guard Damian Lillard, who finished with 23 points. "And it was never who we truly were. Just got off to a tough start."

Since winning only two of their first 10 games, the Bucks have the best record in the NBA at 12-3 (Tuesday's game does not count in the official standings). Antetokounmpo encouraged his teammates to enjoy the win, but he also wanted them to stay focused on how they have been playing over the past 15 games and carry that forward.

"We have just got to stay humble, keep on improving," Antetokounmpo said. "We have a lot of basketball in front of us. We play Cleveland on Friday. Very, very good team. They are going to be waiting for us. Right now, the emotion is at an all-time high. We have to bring it down, be humble. Once we leave here tomorrow, go back to the gym, lock in and hopefully we can go and get a win against the Cavs."

Read 67 times

Soccer

Saudi minister: Salah suits us but we had no talks

Saudi minister: Salah suits us but we had no talks

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMohamed Salah may have signed a new contract at Liverpool, but he s...

Saudi minister: WC worker's death investigated

Saudi minister: WC worker's death investigated

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsSaudi Arabia's minister of sport, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Fai...

Bundesliga history made with 8 goals in 1st half

Bundesliga history made with 8 goals in 1st half

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsUnion Berlin and VfB Stuttgart made history on Saturday as the firs...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Redick: Wolves' 'physicality' caught us off guard

Redick: Wolves' 'physicality' caught us off guard

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- After pushing themselves in the play-in tournament t...

Knicks go on 21-0 run as miscues tank Pistons

Knicks go on 21-0 run as miscues tank Pistons

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- The young, upstart Detroit Pistons, who had more than t...

Baseball

Yanks' Williams blows 4-run lead; ERA up to 9.00

Yanks' Williams blows 4-run lead; ERA up to 9.00

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsTAMPA, Fla. -- Three-and-a-half weeks into his New York Yankees car...

Berrios confronts Raleigh, suspects pitch tipping

Berrios confronts Raleigh, suspects pitch tipping

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsTORONTO -- Right-hander Jose Berrios suspected Seattle Mariners cat...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated