NBA Cup Archives - New Hip Hop News

SOURCE SPORTS: Bucks Crowned NBA Cup Champions, Antentokounmpo Wins MVP

December 18, 2024 by newhiphopnews

On November 10, the Milwaukee Bucks were 2-8, enduring their worst start in a decade. They’re the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup champions and have etched their names in the history of the NBA.

In a dominant 97-81 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Las Vegas, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the charge with a massive triple-double: 26 points, 19 rebounds, and ten assists. Damian Lillard added 23 points, including five three-pointers, as Milwaukee surged in the second half, outscoring OKC 46-31.

Antetokounmpo, already a two-time Kia NBA MVP and 2021 Finals MVP, earned NBA Cup MVP honors, cementing his status as one of the league’s all-time greats.

The Bucks were unstoppable throughout the in-season tournament, finishing a perfect 7-0. Their win also marked a historic turnaround: Milwaukee became the first NBA team to start 2-8 and then win 12 of their next 15 games.

The turning point came in the third quarter, where the Bucks outscored the Thunder 26-14, fueled by a 16-2 run that extended their lead to 20 points. Giannis dominated with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists in the period, while Lillard added eight points to outscore OKC single-handedly.

Defensively, the Bucks shined, holding the Thunder to a season-low 81 points and a dismal 15.6% shooting from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Milwaukee thrived from deep, hitting 17-of-40 threes, outscoring OKC 51-15 from long range.

“To be the last team standing in this tournament, it feels great,” Lillard said postgame.

The Bucks now sit at 14-11 and look poised for an exciting rest of the season.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Trae Young Rolls Dice on Knicks Logo, Hawks Advance to NBA Cup Semifinals

December 12, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The Atlanta Hawks overcame a seven-point halftime deficit to defeat the New York Knicks 108-100 at Madison Square Garden, earning a spot in the NBA Cup semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks. Trae Young led Atlanta’s charge with 22 points and 11 assists, marking his league-leading 18th double-double of the season.

But all day you will see Young’s celebration on the New York Knicks logo.

Atlanta’s win was a complete team effort, with four players notching double-doubles: De’Andre Hunter scored a game-high 24 points, Jalen Johnson contributed 21 points and 15 rebounds, Onyeka Okongwu added 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Clint Capela chipped in 11 points and 13 boards.

The Hawks’ comeback was fueled by a dominant third quarter in which they outscored New York 34-18, including a decisive 29-10 run to close the period. Young exploded for 12 points and five assists in the quarter, directly contributing to 23 of Atlanta’s 34 points.

“We knew what the stakes were coming into this game,” Young said postgame. “We needed everybody to step up, and everybody did. That’s why we got this win.”

Atlanta’s defense stifled the Knicks in the second half, holding them to just 46 points — the second-fewest by New York in a half this season. While Karl-Anthony Towns extended his double-double streak to 14 games with 19 points and 19 rebounds, Atlanta’s depth proved decisive. The Hawks’ bench outscored New York’s 43-14, continuing their recent trend of dominance.

The Hawks now boast a 7-1 record in their last eight games as they head to the semifinals.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Rockets Beat Warriors, Advance to NBA Cup Semifinals

December 12, 2024 by newhiphopnews

After 1,756 days and 15 consecutive losses, the Houston Rockets finally defeated the Golden State Warriors, edging them out 91-90 on Wednesday night to advance to the NBA Cup semifinals. The win marked Houston’s first victory over Golden State since February 20, 2020, breaking the league’s longest active losing streak against a single opponent.

Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with 26 points and 11 rebounds, powering Houston to a dramatic 9-1 run to close the game. Down six with two minutes left, the Rockets rallied, sparked by Fred VanVleet’s clutch three-pointer with 1:16 remaining. Sengun followed with a layup to bring Houston within one, setting up a critical sequence in the final seconds.

With 3.5 seconds left, Jalen Green hit two go-ahead free throws after a loose-ball foul on Golden State. On the Warriors’ final possession, Jabari Smith Jr. delivered the decisive block, sealing Houston’s first lead of the fourth quarter and the victory.

“It’s big growth for us,” Sengun said of Houston’s resilience. “Against a championship team, we finished the game good — that was great.”

Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 19 points but missed a pivotal three-pointer late. Buddy Hield, meanwhile, achieved a milestone, becoming the 17th player to reach 2,000 career three-pointers — doing so in just 656 games, second only to Curry’s 597.

The Rockets now head to Las Vegas to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in Saturday’s NBA Cup semifinals.

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Bucks Return to NBA Cup Semifinals Behind Giannis and Dame

December 11, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The Milwaukee Bucks are heading back to Las Vegas after a thrilling 114-109 victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, securing their spot as the first team to reach consecutive NBA Cup semifinals.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the charge with 37 points, 32 of which came in the first three quarters as Milwaukee built a 10-point advantage. The league’s leading scorer notched his 15th 30-point game and eighth 35-point game of the season, adding seven rebounds, four blocks, and two steals to his dominant performance.

Bobby Portis provided a crucial spark off the bench with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Damian Lillard came alive in the fourth quarter. Lillard tallied 15 of his 28 points in the final period, including a clutch step-back three to tie the game with 40.6 seconds left. Moments later, he sealed the victory with a thunderous go-ahead dunk.

The win continues a remarkable turnaround for the Bucks. After a dismal 2-8 start to the season left them near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, Milwaukee has surged with an 11-3 run over their last 14 games, including a perfect 5-0 in NBA Cup play. Now 6th in the East, the Bucks look poised to carry their momentum into Las Vegas as they chase NBA Cup glory.

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SOURCE SPORTS: NBA Cup Quarterfinals Set After Thrilling Group Play Finale

December 5, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Only eight teams remain in the hunt for the inaugural Emirates NBA Cup as Group Play concluded on Tuesday night. Milwaukee, New York, Orlando, OKC, and Dallas punched their tickets to join Atlanta, Houston, and Golden State in the single-elimination Knockout Rounds.

The Quarterfinals tip-off on Tuesday, Dec. 10, and Wednesday, Dec. 11, with every game carrying a “win-or-go-home” intensity. From there, the NBA Cup will head to Las Vegas, where the Semifinals are set for Saturday, Dec. 14. The Championship game will follow on Dec. 17, crowning the tournament’s first-ever champion.

Tuesday’s Group Play finale was packed with high stakes as 13 teams vied for the final five Knockout spots. With two head-to-head showdowns between undefeated squads and numerous wild-card scenarios at play, the night delivered unforgettable drama.

The Atlanta Hawks were the only East team with a guaranteed spot heading into the finale, having clinched East Group C. The remaining East spots were determined in two winner-take-all clashes between 3-0 clubs in Groups A and B, showcasing the competitive spirit of the NBA Cup’s debut season.

With the stage now set, all eyes turn to next week’s high-stakes Quarterfinals.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Dalton Knecht Catches Fire as Lakers Top Jazz 124-118 in NBA Cup Group Play

November 20, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The Los Angeles Lakers continued their unbeaten streak in NBA Cup competition with a 124-118 victory over the Utah Jazz in West Group B play, improving to 2-0 this season after a perfect 7-0 run to claim last year’s inaugural title.

Rookie sensation Dalton Knecht delivered a historic performance, dropping 37 points and tying the rookie record with nine three-pointers. Knecht’s scorching 75% shooting from the field and beyond the arc made him the fourth NBA rookie to achieve such efficiency while scoring 35+ points.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis provided crucial support, each posting 26-point double-doubles, with James dishing 12 assists and Davis grabbing 14 rebounds.

“He’s fearless,” said Lakers coach J.J. Reddick. “His shotmaking gets us going, it’s a real weapon for our group.”

Knecht’s breakout secured the Lakers’ sixth straight win and etched his name alongside Lakers legends as just the fifth rookie in franchise history to score 35+ points in a game. After his dazzling display, Knecht punctuated the moment with a Michael Jordan-esque shrug, signaling his arrival on the NBA stage.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Cavs Look to Extend Historic Streak Against Celtics in Showdown of NBA Heavyweights

November 18, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The Cleveland Cavaliers are off to a historic start, entering their matchup with the Boston Celtics at 15-0, tied for the second-best start to a season in NBA history. They are matched only by the 1948-49 Washington Capitols and the 1993-94 Houston Rockets, with the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors holding the record at 24-0. Remarkably, all three teams with a 15-0 or better start made it to the NBA Finals that season.

The Cavaliers’ 15-game winning streak has set a franchise record for the longest single-season streak. This game marks the first meeting between Cleveland and Boston since last season’s Eastern Conference Semifinals, which saw the Celtics advance in five games. Both teams are participating in the Emirates NBA Cup, with Cleveland sitting at 1-0 and Boston at 0-1 in Group Play.

Offensively, the Cavaliers lead the NBA in points per game (123.7) and offensive rating (122.1), while the Celtics sit just behind, ranking second in both categories (121.6 points, 121.4 offensive rating). Cleveland has already set a team record with seven games scoring 130 or more points.

Cleveland aims to extend its road dominance with a victory, which would give them an 8-0 record on the road, making them the 12th team in NBA history to start the season with eight consecutive road wins. Meanwhile, Boston will look to build on their recent dramatic overtime win, with Jayson Tatum hitting a buzzer-beating, game-winning three-pointer in their last game against the Toronto Raptors.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Emirates NBA Cup 2024 Schedule Announced

August 14, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The 60-game Group Play slate for the Emirates NBA Cup 2024, the league’s second annual in-season competition, was officially unveiled Tuesday. This year’s tournament promises intense matchups as 30 teams vie for the Emirates NBA Cup.

The competition kicks off on November 12 and concludes with the Championship on December 17 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The Group Play phase, from November 12 to December 3, will see each team participate in four designated “Cup Nights,” facing each opponent in their group once. The six group winners and two wild-card teams will advance to the Knockout Rounds, which begin on December 10. The competition culminates in Las Vegas, where the second-ever NBA Cup champion will be crowned on December 17.

Beyond the trophy, regular-season standings and league honors are at stake. All 67 games in both Group Play and Knockout Rounds will count toward the regular-season standings, except for the Championship game. Following the Championship, a media panel will select the NBA Cup MVP and the All-Tournament Team based on performances throughout the tournament.

Additionally, a prize pool will be allocated to players on teams advancing to the Knockout Rounds, with larger rewards for those progressing further in the competition. The Emirates NBA Cup 2024 promises to be an exciting showcase of basketball talent and competitive spirit.

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