NBA Cup Semifinals Set: Winners and Losers from the Quarterfinals
The NBA Cup semifinals are bringing star power and youth to the spotlight. Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Atlanta’s Trae Young, and the up-and-coming Houston Rockets—featuring three starters aged 22 or younger—will compete at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
- Bucks vs. Hawks: Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
- Thunder vs. Rockets: Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Finals: Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Milwaukee and Oklahoma City clinched their spots Tuesday, while Atlanta and Houston followed on Wednesday. The Hawks topped New York 108-100, and the Rockets edged Golden State 91-90 in a nail-biting finish that included a controversial call.
Here’s a recap of the winners and losers from the quarterfinals:
Winners
Houston Rockets’ Alperen Sengun
Alperen Sengun, the 22-year-old Turkish center, showcased his rising stardom with 26 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and three steals in the Rockets’ first win over Golden State since 2020. Sengun is averaging 18.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 5.3 assists for a Rockets team tied for second in the Western Conference with a 17-8 record.
Atlanta Hawks’ Jalen Johnson and Offensive Rebounding
Jalen Johnson shone with 21 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists, and two steals, helping the Hawks dominate the Knicks on the offensive glass (22-12). Trae Young and DeAndre Hunter added strong performances in Atlanta’s 108-100 victory.
Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued his MVP-caliber season with 39 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals in the Thunder’s 118-104 win over Dallas. SGA leads the NBA in multiple statistical categories and is driving Oklahoma City’s impressive campaign.
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard
The duo delivered stellar performances in the Bucks’ 114-109 victory over Orlando, combining for 65 points and leading Milwaukee to its 11th win in 14 games.
Losers
Golden State Warriors’ Final Three Minutes
The Warriors failed to score in the last 3:03 of their 91-90 loss to Houston. A controversial foul call with 3.5 seconds left sealed their fate, but Golden State’s inability to close out after leading 90-84 with just over three minutes left was the bigger issue.
New York Knicks’ Third Quarter
The Knicks squandered a 10-point lead, allowing Atlanta to outscore them 29-8 over nine minutes in the third quarter. Jalen Brunson’s off night (14 points on 5-for-15 shooting) hurt their chances of advancing.
Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Dončić
Luka Dončić struggled in the first and third quarters, combining for just six points and committing several turnovers. His overall performance (16 points, six turnovers) fell short of his MVP-level standards as the Mavericks lost to the Thunder.
Orlando Magic’s 3-Point Shooting
Shooting just 22.2% from beyond the arc proved costly for Orlando in their five-point loss to Milwaukee. Missing key players Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, the Magic couldn’t overcome their league-worst 3-point shooting struggles.
The stage is set for an exciting semifinal showdown this weekend, with some of the NBA’s brightest stars and emerging talents vying for the inaugural NBA Cup title.
