Emirates NBA Cup Semifinal Showdown: Atlanta Hawks vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Certainly! Here’s a modified version of the content: Atlanta's journey to Las Vegas has been remarkable, with victories against two top-tier Eastern Conference teams – the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers during the Group Play. In the Quarterfinals, they showcased their skills at Madison Square Garden, defeating the Knicks with a stellar third-quarter effort that led to a 108-100 triumph.

As for the Bucks, they remain undefeated in NBA Cup play, going 4-0 in the Group stage, including three double-digit wins, before beating Orlando 114-109 in the Quarterfinals. 

It’s no surprise that both of these teams are on an upward trajectory. The Bucks have posted an 11-3 record after starting 2-8, while the Hawks, who were 4-7 when Group Play started, ignited a 10-5 stretch with a win over the Celtics on Nov. 12. That streak also included back-to-back wins over Cleveland and a decisive 119-104 win over their Saturday opponent, the Bucks. 

Atlanta’s turnaround has been powered by improved defense, ranking as a top 10 defensive team over their last 15 games compared to 18th overall. They’ve also dominated the boards, with only the Rockets averaging more rebounds per game during that stretch. On the other side, Milwaukee’s resurgence has been driven by offense, specifically from Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo. This duo has sparked momentum that continues to fuel the team’s success.

When these teams square off Saturday, all eyes will be on Trae Young and the Bucks’ high-powered duo. Young leads the league with 12.2 assists per game, two more than second-ranked Nikola Jokić. His increase stems from taking fewer shots and prioritizing creating opportunities for teammates. The biggest beneficiaries of his approach so far have been Jalen Johnson and De’Andre Hunter, both of whom are putting up career-best numbers. Hunter, in particular, stands out with a career-high 19.6 points per game — a four-point increase — while shooting 44.6% from 3-point range on a career-high 6.1 attempts per game. If Young maintains his playmaking focus alongside Atlanta’s defensive and rebounding improvements, the Hawks will be difficult to beat. 

The Bucks will lean heavily on Antetokounmpo and Lillard to fuel their offense. Milwaukee is at its best when it’s getting clutch performances from their supporting squad. Bobby Portis has been red-hot over his last two games, scoring 45 points and shooting 18-for-21 from the field. Taurean Prince and A.J. Green could also play pivotal roles off the bench. If Antetokounmpo and Lillard draw Atlanta’s defensive attention and set up their sharpshooters, Prince and Green might deliver game-changing shots.

With how this matchup lays out, it should be anybody’s game when these two squads take the floor in Las Vegas for the opportunity to advance to the Emirates NBA Cup Championship.