Nightly Pulse: NBA Updates and Highlights from Dec. 17

Bucks vs Thunder (8:30 PM ET, Watch Live on ABC)

Emirates NBA Cup Finals

Stars get loose

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Damian Lillard warm-up ahead of tonight’s Emirates NBA Cup Final.

Down a man

Khris Middleton will not play tonight due to an illness.

✍️Notes for tonight’s game✍️

Both of these teams are 12-3 in their last 15 games and come into tonight’s matchup as two of the hottest teams in the NBA. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sit at No. 2 and No. 3 respectively on the

Kia MVP Ladder

. 

The Bucks are third in the NBA in three-point shooting with 38.9% accuracy, while the Thunder have given up the lowest percentage of made threes at 33.1%. If the Bucks cannot convert on their long-distance attempts, they may face an uphill battle to topple the Thunder.