SPORTS LINE
The Milwaukee Bucks.
These are your 2024 NBA Cup champions after they knocked off the Oklahoma City Thunder in the final on Tuesday evening. Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 97-81. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with a triple-double, recording 26 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists, taking home Cup MVP honors. Damian Lillard added 23 points, shooting 5 of 10 from three. The first half was played incredibly even, with Milwaukee taking only a one-point lead into halftime. But the Bucks dominated the second half, particularly the third quarter, outscoring Oklahoma City 26-14. The 14 points the Thunder scored in the third were their fewest in a quarter this season. The Bucks then led by as many as 20 points in the fourth quarter, holding off any potential comeback.
Though the final does not count toward league standings for either team, Milwaukee’s championship run puts a capper on an impressive early season turnaround. After starting the season 2-8, the Bucks have now won 13 of their last 16 games as of the end of the NBA Cup Championship. “The team that we started the season as is not the team that we are now and it was never who we truly were,” Lillard said. “I think (winning) just showed what we’ve been building,” he continued. “You know, I think it all came out in our biggest game to this point.” Lillard’s quotes show just how hard the team has been working and just how thirsty the team is for this year’s NBA championship.
Finally, the team’s true colors and talents are coming through. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who did not play in the playoffs in 2024 and missed playoff games in 2023, reminded people that few players are capable of matching his effort in big-stakes games, on both ends of the floor. Giannis is truly a team player.
The Green Bay Packers.
We’re in the final weeks of the NFL regular season, but we’re also in the final weeks of 2024, which means all those NFL games are syncing up with the holidays. The Packers convincingly smashing a Seahawks team that was coming off four straight wins is the kind of thing a Super Bowl contender does. Excluding the riled-up Jordan Love, three Packers played big roles in the win and those three Packers will need to continue to do so as Green Bay makes their push into the postseason. Watson is the guy who sets the ceiling for this offense, and the catches he made against Seattle are the kind that can set him apart and push this Packers offense to another level. Watson has the size and speed that other players on the roster, and frankly in the entire league just don’t have.
Green Bay has not had an above-average off-ball linebacker in a long time. The last couple of weeks have seen teams attack the middle of the field relentlessly because of this. Cooper made his way back on the field and immediately changed how this Green Bay defense looked. He racked up a sack, a pick, and multiple tackles for loss. Brandon McManus has made 93% of his kicks with Green Bay since joining the team mid-season. Two of those kicks have been walk-off game-winners. He has missed no extra points. Let’s hope the Packers keep us this momentum and bring home a championship.
