Milwaukee Bucks vs. Oklahoma City: NBA Previews, odds and Predictions

Get a preview, odds, and predictions for the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Oklahoma City NBA game. Stay updated on all the latest news and analysis in the world of basketball.

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Milwaukee Bucks vs. Oklahoma City: NBA Previews, odds and Predictions

On Wednesday, the Emirates NBA Cup final will occur in Las Vegas's T-Mobile Arena, pitting the Oklahoma City Thunder against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Currently, the Thunder are at the top of the Western Conference with a record of 20-5, while the Bucks are in sixth place with a record of 14-11.

Previous Matches and Head-to-head

With Saturday's 110-102 semi-final victory against the Atlanta Hawks, the Milwaukee Bucks will get a shot at hoisting the NBA Cup trophy after losing out on the finals last season.

Among the players that contributed to the team's triumph were Giannis Antetokounmpo (32 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists), Damian Lillard (25 points, seven assists), and Brook Lopez (16 points).

The Hawks put up a valiant fight, reclaiming the lead in the third quarter after falling 29-21 in the second. However, Doc Rivers' team finally pulled away in the fourth quarter, scoring 28-19 to seal the deal.

With a perfect 6-0 record in this competition and a 12-3 record over their past 15 games, the Bucks have regained their footing after a rocky 2-8 start to the season.

Milwaukee is allowing 111.9 points per game and averaging 113.3 points per game this season, putting them in 12th place in the NBA. However, they have only covered the spread in 41.7% of their games (10-14-1).

The Oklahoma City Thunder advanced to the finals midweek by defeating the Houston Rockets 111-96. They were the first Western Conference club to achieve 20 victories this season.

Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein supported Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had 32 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, respectively.

After falling early in the first quarter and going into halftime with a 42-41 disadvantage, the Thunder stormed back in the third quarter, scoring 34 points on an 11-0 run, and they never looked back.

Mark Daigneault's squad will face the Bucks next. Last season, they won both games with the Bucks, including a 125-107 home triumph in the middle of April.

Both offensively and defensively, OKC is a top-10 team this season. They are 2.3 points better than their next opponent each game and have the most vigorous defense in the league, allowing only 103.5 points per game on average.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Oklahoma City Team News

Although Khris Middleton, Antetokounmpo, and MarJon Beauchamp were all classified as doubtful before the Bucks' game against the Hawks, they all played a whole game. They will likely be available for Wednesday's encounter.

Lillard leads the squad in assists with 7.5 per game and scores 25.7 points per game, while the Greek Freak averages 32.7 points and 6.1 assists per game this season.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma has taken a beating recently, with many players missing for at least one or two games due to injuries. Among those players out for this match are Chet Holmgren (hip fracture) and Jaylin Williams (hamstring strain).

The likes of Ousmane Dieng (finger), Nikola Topic (torn ACL), and Adam Flagler (hand fracture) will also be out for some time, while Alex Ducas is out on loan to the G League.

Our Predictions

Handicap (incl. overtime): Oklahoma City Thunder (-3.5) @ 1.70 on Sky247.ng

The offensive firepower of either side is enough to defeat any club on a good day, but the match will come down to OKC's outstanding defensive performance this season.

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