Giannis ends Dyson Daniels' NBA Cup dream

• NBA Cup Semifinals: Bucks defeat Hawks 110-102
• Giannis dominates with 32 points, 14 rebounds, nine assists
• Trae Young leads Hawks with 35 points in losing effort

Australian Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels' NBA Cup dream is over.

Daniels, who is leading the NBA in steals, scored 11 points, grabbed eight rebounds, five assists, a steal and block in the 110-102 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks (Game Centre) in Las Vegas, Nevada, on December 15, 2024.

The Milwaukee Bucks advanced to the NBA Cup Final — a game that doesn't count towards NBA regular season records.

Bucks Emerge Victorious in Tight Contest

The Milwaukee Bucks showcased their growing championship pedigree after a poor start to the 2024-25 season, led by a dominant performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks weathered an offensive barrage from All-Star guard Trae Young to emerge victorious in a game that remained competitive until the final minutes.

Giannis Antetokounmpo's All-Around Brilliance

Giannis Antetokounmpo once again proved why he's considered one of the most unstoppable forces in the NBA. The Greek Freak stuffed the stat sheet with an impressive 32 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists, falling just shy of a triple-double. His ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor was on full display, as he also contributed four blocks and a steal.

Antetokounmpo was efficient, shooting an impressive 10-of-15 from the field.

Damian Lillard's Clutch Performance

While Giannis was the standout performer, Damian Lillard provided crucial support with 25 points and seven assists including a game breaking runner to put the Bucks up seven in the final minute. Lillard connected on 5 of his 14 three-point attempts.

Trae Young's Valiant Effort

Despite the loss, Trae Young was again The Man for the Hawks, pouring in a game-high 35 points while also dishing out 10 assists. He had five turnovers.

Key Factors in the Bucks' Victory

Several factors contributed to Milwaukee's success in this crucial semi-final matchup:

Balanced Scoring Attack: While Antetokounmpo and Lillard led the way, the Bucks received significant contributions from their supporting cast. Brook Lopez chipped in with 16 points and two blocks, while Bobby Portis added 10 points and nine rebounds off the bench.

On the boards: The Bucks out-rebounded the Hawks 47-44, with Antetokounmpo's 14 boards leading the way. This advantage on the glass limited Atlanta's second-chance opportunities and allowed Milwaukee to control the pace of the game.

Defensive stops down the stretch: Milwaukee's defensive effort in the forth quarter was the difference, including Antetokounmpo's monster block on Clint Capella's lob pass from Young. The Bucks had eight steals and eight blocks, and forced 13 turnovers.

Atlanta's Balanced Scoring Behind Young

Jalen Johnson and De'Andre Hunter each contributed 15 points, providing much-needed offensive support for Trae Young. Bogdan Bogdanovic also reached double figures with 10 points.

Clint Capela's Interior Presence: Capela made his presence felt on the defensive end, recording four blocks to go along with six points and eight rebounds. His ability to protect the rim keep the game close for long stretches.

Three-Point Efficiency: The Hawks shot an impressive 41.7% from beyond the arc as a team, connecting on 10 of their 24 attempts.

Looking Ahead to the NBA Cup Finals

With this victory, the Milwaukee Bucks go into the NBA Cup championship game against either Houston or Oklahoma City. Australians Jock Landale and Jack McVeigh are on the Rockets roster but are playing limited minutes.

For the Atlanta Hawks, this loss marks the end of their NBA Cup journey.

Impact on the Regular Season

NBA Cup is a separate tournament from the regular season but these games do count towards the regular-season standings. The Bucks improve to 14-11 while the Hawks fall to 14-13 overall and 7-7 on the road.

The Significance of the NBA Cup

The second NBA Cup represents is a bold initiative by the league to add excitement and stakes to the early portion of the regular season. By creating a tournament-within-a-season format, the NBA has given teams and players additional motivation to perform at their highest level from the opening tip of the campaign.

For the Bucks, advancing to the finals of this new competition provides an opportunity to add another piece of hardware to their trophy case and returning to their status as one of the league's elite teams. The experience of competing in high-pressure situations early in the season could also pay dividends when the playoffs roll around in the spring.

As the Bucks prepare for the NBA Cup Finals, they'll look to ride the momentum of this victory and capture their first NBA Cup. The Los Angeles Lakers won the first Cup last season.

For the Hawks, the focus now shifts to building on the positives from this tournament run and translating that into success in the remainder of the regular season.