For two consecutive seasons, the NBA Cup is featuring an intriguing rivalry between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Atlanta Hawks. The much-anticipated clash will be witnessed on the forthcoming Saturday afternoon, in the dazzling city of Las Vegas. The Hawks, coming in as underdogs, accomplished the unexpected by overcoming the New York Knicks, initially deemed the top contenders for the NBA Cup. Their Wednesday night triumph was largely bolstered by another notable performance from Trae Young at Madison Square Garden.
The Bucks found themselves in an intense contest on Tuesday night against the injury-riddled Orlando Magic, yet pivotal contributions from Damian Lillard ensured their survival. Following a relatively inferior start to the season, the Bucks have managed to rebound, comfortably settling above a .500 record and experiencing an upward trajectory. This turnaround can be attributed to Khris Middleton, a former All-Star, reappearing in the lineup. This sets the stage for a captivating replay of the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals.
Despite a somewhat challenging season, Young has managed to stand out due to his scoring prowess. He averages close to 21 points per match, with a shooting efficiency of 38.4 percent field goals and 30.8 percent at three-pointers. Yet, the encounter with the Bucks could offer Young a favorable matchup. The Bucks have notably struggled to defend against guards, with an NBA-leading 28.42 points per game given up to rival point guards.
Young, who was particularly productive on Wednesday with a 22-point contribution against New York, had a subpar shooting efficiency (8-for-22 from the field). He will surely be hoping for an improved field goal percentage during the upcoming game on Saturday, against a comparatively weaker defense. The Bucks’ vulnerability was furthermore exploited by Jalen Suggs, who managed to put up 32 points against them during the NBA Cup quarterfinals.
Don’t be surprised if Young manages to record a substantial score on Saturday. Giannis Antetokounmpo, on the other hand, had an impressive performance during the earlier confrontation with the Hawks this season, having accumulated a commendable 31 points. Despite taking 26 free throw shots, he managed to hit 15 and landed 8-out-of-14 field shots.
Although this prolific display wasn’t enough to steer the Bucks to victory, Giannis has managed to score more than 30 points in eight out of his last nine games, marking a fairly consistent scoring record. The two-time MVP maintains an average of 32.7 points per game, with a shooting efficiency of 61.2 percent from the field. Such a statistic puts him in very good standing, especially considering that Atlanta typically adopts an accelerated pace (ranking third in the NBA) and its mediocre 18th position in defensive ratings.
The current Hawks’ campaign mirrors the surprising performance by the Indiana Pacers in the previous season’s NBA Cup. The young Pacers squad made an unexpected surge, reaching the NBA Cup Final just to fall to the Los Angeles Lakers. This analogy begs the question – Is it the Hawks’ turn to tread a similar path?
The Hawks have managed to astound NBA enthusiasts this season by grabbing wins against top-tier teams, including Milwaukee, New York, Boston, and twice against Cleveland. More impressively, their victory against the Bucks was by a comprehensive 15-point margin. While Khris Middleton’s return bolsters the Bucks, his playing time of fewer than 24 minutes per game restricts his potential impact on their offensive game.
This season, the Hawks have pulled off an applaudable 8-4 record as underdogs while the Bucks have struggled with a 6-11-1 record as favorites. So, entering into Saturday’s game, the scales might just be tipped unexpectedly. All eyes will be on these two rivals, as they battle for supremacy in what promises to be another electrifying contest, filled with unforeseen plot twists and tantalizing opportunities for both teams.