Bucks get second crack at NBA Cup semis vs. Trae Young, Hawks
Fri Dec 13 5:48pm ET
Field Level Media
LAS VEGAS -- The Milwaukee Bucks are making a return trip to the NBA Cup semifinals after falling short in Sin City last season. This time around, they'll have the responsibility of stopping one of the game's great entertainers in Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks.
Young rolled a pair of imaginary dice over the New York Knicks' midcourt logo in the closing moments of the Hawks' 108-100 win in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, a nod to the Hawks' trip to Vegas.
It was yet another example of Young's showmanship, something the Knicks have seen firsthand over the years. The Bucks also got to experience a bit of Young's big-game prowess in the 2021 Eastern Conference finals, but Young suffered an ankle injury in Game 3 of that series and wasn't the same the rest of the way.
If "Ice Trae" has it his way, the Bucks will be the latest victim of his prime-time heroics on Saturday night. Even if he doesn't like to linger on the memories of that series.
"I don't let past things make me mad (and I don't) hold a grudge on those things," the 26-year-old Young said. "Yeah, I'm young. I'm not super young anymore, where I like, let those things really affect me.
"I remember it like it was yesterday. It definitely hurts, but I mean, this is a new team. I'm part of a new team. They're a different team. So I can't let my past affect my mental and my focus on right now, because it's a totally different team and totally different place."
Young is averaging 21 points per game to go along with 12.2 assists, numbers that have only been equaled by Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas over the course of an entire NBA season. He's gotten a fair bit of help too, most notably in the form of 19.8 points and a team-high 10.1 rebounds per game from fourth-year forward Jalen Johnson.
The Hawks earned the No. 3 seed in NBA Cup knockout play after going 3-1 in the East Group C stage. Atlanta's among the hottest teams in the league at the moment, having won seven of its last eight games overall.
The Bucks, on the other hand, are the only team of the four remaining that made it to the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas last season. They had a short trip, falling 128-119 to the Pacers, but the hope is that last year's experience better prepared them for all of the outside hoopla that comes with this stage.
At the very least, they have a much better understanding of what winning the NBA Cup would entail.
"I think last year, most people didn't even understand what was going on until they got to the final stages," Bucks star Damian Lillard said. "When we got to the game against New York last year, where the winner got to go to Vegas, we started to have a better understanding of what was on the line.
"Coming into this season, I think everybody understood better. Everybody cared more, not just because it's an opportunity to win money. Even though it's not the ultimate goal, I think it gives you an edge. We want to be the last team standing in it. We want to win the money. We want to continue going in the right direction as a team."
The Bucks entered Tuesday's quarterfinal as the East's top seed in NBA Cup play, going 4-0 in East Group B play despite a turbulent 2-8 start to the season. They've won nine of their last 11 games and eclipsed .500 for the season by beating the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday and the Orlando Magic on Tuesday.
Giannis Antetokounmpo sits atop the NBA scoring leaders as of Friday afternoon, averaging 32.7 points and a team-high 11.4 rebounds per game. Lillard has also played at an All-Star level, averaging 25.8 points per game in addition to 7.6 assists. Bobby Portis (13.2 ppg) and Brook Lopez (11 ppg) are the only other Bucks averaging double figures.
--Will Despart, Field Level Media
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Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (back) is questionable for Wednesday's game against the Lakers. The 27-year-old missed his first game of the season on Monday versus the Clippers. As a result, Kevin Love got the start. However, it was Kel'el Ware (probable) who took advantage, with the rookie finishing the night with 19 points, 13 rebounds, one steal, and one block while draining all three attempts from downtown. If Adebayo misses another game, Ware will see plenty of attention from DFS managers, assuming he's cleared to suit up. But if Ware is also ruled out, the Heat may go small, meaning Love and Nikola Jovic may split time at the five.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (foot) didn't play in Tuesday's loss to OKC. However, it appears he has a chance of returning for Wednesday's game against the Knicks, with head coach Nick Nurse labeling the multi-time All-Star as "day-to-day." Embiid, who hasn't been as productive this season, has appeared in only 13 of Philly's 38 games during the 2024-25 campaign, most recently missing five games because of a foot sprain. With Andre Drummond (toe) uncertain for Wednesday's meeting with New York, Guerschon Yabusele, amassing 17 points, seven rebounds, and four assists on Tuesday night, could find himself back in the middle if Embiid remains sidelined.
Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson (ankle) has been upgraded to available ahead of Tuesday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Johnson will make his return to the court after missing each of the last five games due to a right ankle sprain. His return is a welcoming sight with Nicolas Claxton (hamstring) heading to the sideline on Tuesday. Johnson figures to return to his normal role in the rotation which is usually around 32 minutes. Before going down, Johnson posted back-to-back games with 20-plus points, so hopefully he didn't lose any momentum with the time off. Fantasy managers can get him back in their lineups on Tuesday.
Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons (back) is available ahead of Tuesday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Simmons has been cleared to play after being plagued by some lingering issues this season. The 28-year-old has looked fairly decent over his last two games. Fellow guard D'Angelo Russell (shin) is also active, so we'll see how the Nets use the two playmaking guards. Simmons isn't an ideal fantasy option, but his defense and passing do offer some help in category formats. He figures to play his normal workload during Tuesday's game.
Brooklyn Nets center Nicolas Claxton (hamstring) has been ruled out ahead of Tuesday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Claxton was listed as questionable coming into this game, but will ultimately sit out due to a right hamstring The severity of the issue is unknown, so Claxton will at least miss one game due to this issue. Noah Clowney figures to take over as the starting center on Tuesday. Clowney finished with five rebounds and zero points in 32 minutes during his last game. He figures to see around the same amount of playing time, but he isn't an ideal streaming option after his dud last time out.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (illness) will play on Tuesday against Dallas. The 29-year-old missed a few games recently due to an illness. Fortunately, he's been on the floor for Denver's previous two contests, combining for 54 points, 30 boards, 24 assists, and seven steals. With that in mind, Jokic has a favorable outlook versus Dallas on Tuesday night, considering he has averaged 29.7 points, 17.7 rebounds, and 11.3 assists in three meetings with the Mavs during the 2024-25 campaign.
Brooklyn Nets guard D'Angelo Russell (shin) has been upgraded to available ahead of Tuesday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Russell is back in the mix after missing each of the last four games due to a shin contusion. Before this, Russell was in a bit of a slump with 11 points or less in three of his last four games. It doesn't seem like the move to Brooklyn as helped his scoring, but he does seem to be getting more assists as one of the primary playmakers. Fantasy managers who have Russell rostered can get him back in their lineups on Tuesday.
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (calf) will play in Tuesday's rematch versus the Mavericks. The veteran returned for Sunday's game between both squads after missing nine games because of a calf strain, his second stint on the shelf because of the issue this season. He was decent in his first game back, accumulating 13 points, six boards, and one block. However, Gordon logged only 18 minutes, so he's hard to trust for production, especially since he may not play more than that on Tuesday evening.
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (back) has been upgraded to available ahead of Tuesday's game against the Denver Nuggets. The superstar guard is returning to the court after missing each of the last five games due to a back sprain. His return figures to push Spencer Dinwiddie back to the bench where he won't offer the same fantasy value. Fantasy managers who were holding Dinwiddie might want to look elsewhere for help now. The expectation is that Irving will play around 30 minutes during Tuesday's game. Fantasy managers in season-long formats should plug him back into their lineups ahead of tip-off.
Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze (hip) is questionable for Wednesday's game against the Bucks. The 25-year-old has had an excellent season, averaging career-highs in points (9.6), rebounds (8.2), and blocks (1.6). He exited Sunday's game versus Philly after logging just 12 minutes of action and is now in danger of missing Wednesday's contest because of a hip contusion. If Bitadze doesn't suit up, Wendell Carter Jr., averaging 7.9 points and 7.5 rebounds in 19 starts this season, could find himself holding things down in the middle. However, Carter could have a tough time getting things going against a Milwaukee team that has played well on the defensive end this season.
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (back) won't play in Wednesday's meeting with Memphis. He'll now miss a third-consecutive game because of back spasms. Fortunately, Stephon Castle has shown signs of life of late, amassing 23 points and two steals as a member of the starting lineup on Monday night against the Los Angeles Lakers. Granted, Castle has a way to go before earning the trust of fantasy managers. But after the rookie's most recent performance, he deserves another start in all fantasy lineups against a Grizzlies squad that has struggled since the start of 2025.
Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball is scheduled to be rested on Wednesday versus Atlanta. The team begins a back-to-back set on Tuesday against New Orleans, and Ball hasn't been cleared to play on consecutive nights. Ball tied a season-high with 26 minutes in the last game against Sacramento, so he's starting to get close to a normal workload, which is great news for fantasy managers. Ball's work versus the Kings included a season-high 15 points and three assists on 5-for-8 three-point shooting. He gets another favorable matchup on Tuesday against a fragile defense.
Golden State Warriors forwardKyle Anderson (hamstring) is questionable for Wednesday's matchup with his former team, the Minnesota Timberwolves. Anderson was added to the injury report due to soreness in his left hamstring. The Warriors are hopeful the 31-year-old can suit up as Jonathan Kuminga(ankle) is out andDraymond Green(illness) is listed as questionable. With several players potentially out of action for Wednesday, Anderson could start if he's cleared to play. However, he won't make an impact in fantasy, averaging 5.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 15.2 minutes per contest.
Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (neck) will hop back into the lineup on Tuesday against New Orleans. He's available following a one-game absence after recovering from a neck strain. White settled for 15 points in his last outing against Washington, but he has been sharp offensively in recent weeks. The 24-year-old has posted 20-plus points in five of his past eight appearances and is shooting close to 48 percent from three-point range in January.
Phoenix Suns guard/forward Grayson Allen (knee) is available for Tuesday's clash against Atlanta. He carried a small question mark when the team initially listed Allen as probable for the game. The 29-year-old sharpshooter was limited to only 13 minutes in the previous game due to a knee issue. Fantasy managers could see significant production from Allen on Tuesday if he logs his usual workload, as the Hawks have the third-worst defensive record in the league and allow a lot of three-point shots.
Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Gary Trent Jr. (hip) has been ruled out for Tuesday's contest against Sacramento. He will sit out a second consecutive game due to a hip strain. Trent Jr. was initially regarded as questionable for the matchup, so it's possible he might be ready to return on Wednesday versus Orlando. AJ Green, Ryan Rollins, and Pat Connaughton may receive a larger workload in Trent Jr.'s absence. However, none of them stand out as strong fantasy targets.
Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) will play in Tuesday's matchup against Sacramento. Antetokounmpo continues to be accompanied by a probable tag, but he has been upgraded to available. The former MVP has recorded 10 straight double-doubles, with the run including a couple of triple-doubles. However, his scoring output has dropped to 26.5 points this month. The Kings are mediocre defensively, which could help Antetokounmpo get back on track scoring-wise.
Atlanta Hawks forward De'Andre Hunter (foot) will not play against Phoenix on Tuesday. He is a late scratch for the contest, as the team had not listed him on the injury report ahead of the game. Hunter has experienced some health issues, so the team may want to play it extra safe with him as Atlanta begins a back-to-back set. With Hunter out of the picture, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Garrison Mathews should be the key performers off the bench on Tuesday. David Roddy might also see additional action.
According to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, Chicago Bulls guardAyo Dosunmu(calf) won't suit up against the Pelicans on Tuesday. Dosunmu will miss his 10th consecutive contest due to a right calf strain.However, Dosunmu is expected to return against the Hawks on Wednesday. Until then, Lonzo BallandTalen Horton-Tucker will likely continue to see expanded roles even after Dosunmu returns, as he will likely have his minutes restricted.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome (illness) is not ready to return to the lineup on Tuesday against Indiana. He has been downgraded from doubtful to out. Jerome's next chance to return will come on Thursday against his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder. With Jerome unavailable, around 18 minutes are available to be shared among the rest of the group. Both Caris LeVert and Max Strus logged over 20 minutes off the bench in Sunday's encounter with the Pacers. However, they had poor outings, combining for only five points.
