Giannis's Clutch Block Lifts Bucks Over Hawks in Emirates NBA Cup Semifinal

Dec 14, 2024, 11:20 PM

The Milwaukee Bucks advanced to the Emirates NBA Cup Championship after defeating the Atlanta Hawks in a closely contested semifinal game in Las Vegas. The Bucks led 55-49 at halftime, but the Hawks surged ahead to lead 83-82 after three quarters, thanks in part to Trae Young's strong performance, who had 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 10 assists by the end of the third quarter. Young scored or assisted on all 15 of the Hawks' early points, fueling their strong start. Jalen Johnson added a highlight-reel dunk over Bobby Portis Jr., converting an and-one play that energized the team. In the final quarter, Milwaukee regained the lead with significant contributions from Giannis Antetokounmpo, the NBA's leading scorer averaging 32.7 points per game, and Damian Lillard. Antetokounmpo delivered crucial plays, including a turnaround jumper that put the Bucks up by seven with three minutes remaining, and a spectacular block on Clint Capela reminiscent of his iconic block in the 2021 NBA Finals. Lillard added a deep three-pointer and a late floater, putting the Bucks ahead by seven points with 23 seconds left. The game had a playoff atmosphere with intense back-and-forth action, but the Bucks' late-game execution secured their place in the championship.