LAS VEGAS– Giannis Antetokounmpo had 32 points and assisted on a triple-double, Damian Lillard added 25 i Milwaukee Bucks defeat Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, 110-102, and clinched a spot in the NBA Cup championship game.
Antetokounmpo finished with 14 rebounds, nine assists and four blocks for the Bucks, who improved to 11-1 in NBA Cup play, the only loss in last year’s semifinals.
Brook Lopez scored 16 points for Milwaukee.
Trae Young had 35 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds for the Hawks, who had 15 points and 10 rebounds Jalen Johnson and 15 points from De’Andre Hunter.
Hawks: Young drew a game-high 11 fouls, a season-high. He drew 10 fouls in two other games this season; The Hawks won both. Since joining the NBA, Young has drawn at least 10 fouls in a game 52 times. During this period, every other Hawk combined did it once.
Bucks: Antetokounmpo was brilliant, shooting 10 of 15 from the field and 12 of 18 from the foul line. AND Bobby Portis as usual, coming off the bench, he recorded 10 points and nine rebounds in 23 minutes.
Antetokounmpo blocked an alley-oop dunk attempt Clint Capela at the hoop with 2:35 left, maintaining a five-point Bucks lead.
Going back to last season, including the playoffs, Milwaukee had lost 20 straight games, trailing entering the fourth quarter. On Saturday, the Bucks trailed 83-82 in the fourth quarter.
The Bucks will face the Thunder or Rockets in Tuesday’s championship game, then return to regular season play at the Cavaliers on Friday. The Hawks return to regular season play on Thursday against the Spurs.
