The GIST: The NBA Cup group stage is over, and now we’re heading into the do-or-die quarter-final matchups. Trade in your holiday countdown for some basketball excitement because ’tis the (NBA) season.
Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder advance to the semis: In the Eastern Conference (EC), the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks secured a spot in the semifinals by defeating the shorthanded Orlando Magic 114–109. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard combined for 65 points in the victory. Meanwhile, in the Western Conference (WC), the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder avenged last year’s finals loss by beating the Dallas Mavericks 118–104, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 39 points.
Preview of tonight’s games: The unexpected No. 3 seed Atlanta Hawks will take on the No. 2 seed NY Knicks in what promises to be a high-scoring matchup at 7 p.m. ET. On the other hand, defense will be key in the 9:30 p.m. ET game between the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets and the No. 3 seed Golden State Warriors, two of the league’s best defensive teams.
