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Milwaukee vs. Oklahoma City LIVE: Will youth crush experience in NBA Cup finale? | Marca
The stage is set for an epic clash in the Emirates NBA Cup final as the veteran Milwaukee Bucks face off against the rising Oklahoma City Thunder. This Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena, it’s experience versus exuberance, championship pedigree against youthful hunger, with a trophy and serious cash on the line.
The Bucks, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, bring a wealth of experience to the table, boasting All-Stars and NBA championship rings. However, the Thunder, spearheaded by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, are a force to be reckoned with, on pace for a second consecutive Western Conference No. 1 seed.
While some might frame this as a battle of old versus young, both teams are dismissing the narrative. “It just comes down to one game and that’s it,” Lillard stated. “I don’t think nobody, at least with us, is looking at it like, ‘Oh, we old and all that and they young.’”
Gilgeous-Alexander echoed this sentiment, stating his focus is on dominating every opponent, regardless of their experience. “To be completely honest with you, I don’t differentiate games on who I play against,” he said. “If we play the worst team in the league, the best team in the league, I’m trying to take their head off.”
Oklahoma City’s run in the Cup
Both teams enter the final as two of the league’s hottest, boasting 12-3 records in their last 15 games. This high-stakes matchup not only offers a hefty payday–$205,988 per player for the losers and a whopping $514,971 for the winners–but also a crucial test of their mettle.
The Thunder’s Cup run has mirrored their regular season success. They dominated their group, overcoming the Lakers, Jazz, and a weakened Suns. They continued their impressive form in the knockout rounds with wins over Dallas and Houston, demonstrating resilience even in the absence of Chet Holmgren. They are 12-3 without Holmgren after going 8-2 with him.
Milwaukee’s run in the Cup
The Cup has been a turning point for the Bucks, who used the tournament to reignite their season after a rocky 2-8 start. Improved shooting and more aggressive defense have propelled them to impressive rankings in offensive and defensive efficiency during Cup play. The return of Khris Middleton adds another layer of intrigue.
With both Antetokounmpo and Gilgeous-Alexander in contention for both the Kia MVP and the tournament MVP, this final is poised to be an instant classic. Who will emerge victorious? Will experience prevail, or will youth reign supreme?
Bucks vs. Thunder showdown: First-time NBA Cup clash too close to call
The highly anticipated Emirates NBA Cup final is finally here, and predicting the winner is proving impossible. For the first time this season, the veteran Milwaukee Bucks will square off against the upstart Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
This is the teams’ first meeting of the season, with their two regular-season games scheduled for February 3 in OKC and March 16 in Milwaukee. Last season, the teams split their two matchups, with the most recent coming on April 12, when the Bucks fell to OKC while missing their superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.
Despite the Bucks’ pedigree, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault believes a loss earlier in 2023 proved pivotal for his rising team.
Reflecting on their March 24 defeat in Milwaukee, Daigneault said, “They really took it to us, and it was a great game for us. It was like water in the face for us. … It really informed us [of] the level of physicality, focus, everything you need to win against a good team.”
Lillard is the Bucks’ X factor
Both squads enter the final riding hot streaks. The Bucks have been closing out tight games behind their superstar duo of Antetokounmpo and Lillard, while the Thunder are firing on all cylinders with breakout performances from their young core.
Lillard remains Milwaukee’s X-factor, capable of dominating the scoreboard, while OKC’s forward Jalen Williams has drawn comparisons to a young Scottie Pippen for his versatility and clutch play.
Milwaukee dominates the deep game
One key stat could tip the scales: Milwaukee thrives from behind the arc, boasting a deadly 38.9% three-point shooting percentage. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City allows opponents to take 44.6% of their shots from deep — a troubling sign if the Bucks get hot from long range.
Oddsmakers give OKC a slight edge as 4.5-point favorites, but in a matchup this close, it could all come down to who catches fire on the night. One thing’s for sure — this NBA Cup final is shaping up to be a thriller.
New Iowa State wrestling coach Brent Metcalf outlines vision for team
New Iowa State wrestling coach Brent Metcalf outlines vision for team
Iowa State wrestling’s first commitment of the Brent Metcalf era will be a transfer portal addition.
The Cyclones added Oklahoma State transfer Brayden Thompson, who announced his commitment on April 18 via Instagram. Thompson is a one-time NCAA qualifier at the 2024 NCAA Championships, doing so as a true freshman. He redshirted in 2024-25, but competed in open tournaments at 184 pounds and was 9-0. He did not wrestle a match in 2025-26 and will have at least two years of eligibility remaining.
Out of high school, Thompson was ranked the No. 3 pound-for-pound wrestler and No. 1 at 182 pounds in the 2023 recruiting class by Flowrestling. He also won Powerade and Ironman titles, two of the more prestigious high school tournaments in the nation. Assuming Thompson returns to 184 pounds where he last wrestled, he should fill in nicely as a potential replacement for Isaac Dean after his graduation.
Thompson is Iowa State’s first transfer portal addition after several departures, including Anthony Echemendia and Christian Castillo, who also entered the portal.
Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.
NORMAN — The Oklahoma Sooners liked their wide receiver room a year ago. They want 2026 to be even better.
Isaiah Sategna’s return helps that desire. Earning experienced pass catchers Trell Harris and Parker Livingstone via the transfer portal gives you added play makers. But after the Sooners Spring Game on Saturday, an unlikely hero emerged.
When Jahsiear Rogers flipped from Penn State to Oklahoma last December, he drew the usual excitement that comes with a new commitment. But few expected him to climb the depth chart this quickly, even with the injuries that hit Emmett Jones’ room.
Rogers did just that and more on Saturday. He led all pass catchers with five receptions for 70 yards in Oklahoma’s annual Red/White game.
“I knew it was time to showcase,” Rogers said after the game. “It was amazing to see the fans and get used to the OU way. I’m a playmaker. They really want to put the ball in playmakers hands. I pretty much knew I had to lead the white team.”
Rogers got the ball rolling early. On the second offensive play for the white team, backup quarterback Whitt Newbauer rolled to his right wide, then stopped and looked towards the middle of the field where he saw Rogers running open. Newbauer connected with Rogers for a 39-yard gain.
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With Rogers on the white team, he is running against (most of) Oklahoma’s starting defense. As fate would have it, on that 39-yard reception, Rogers beat his favorite teammate to compete against — Reggie Powers.
“He is just a leader, good guy,” Rogers said of Powers. “Me and him go after it every day in practice. Reggie is strong. When I come at him, I have to really come at him.”
Rogers’ big play over Powers was the second-longest catch of the spring game — Sategna’s 50-yard reception that appeared to be a touchdown before coaches pulled it back to set up a red-zone rep. The other four catches weren’t flashy, but they were important in their own way, and Rogers looked like he belonged on the field.
“I love it. As long as I can get the ball, I can be me. I love it,” Rogers said. “When I am on the field, I am ready to go. I am ready to be a playmaker.”
The season is still months away, and Rogers hasn’t earned a spot high on the depth chart yet. A strong spring and an encouraging Red/White Game can only lead to early playing time if he carries that momentum into summer and fall camp.
More experienced players will return from injury and receivers who’ve been in the program for a few years will have an extra leg-up.
But Rogers is taking everything in stride and leaving no stone unturned in his development.
“Just learning from the older guys,” Rogers said. “Manny Choice, Isaiah Sategna, Trell Harris, Mackenzie Alleyne. Really all of them. We lean on each other, learn from each other. That is kind of how our room is.”
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The Oklahoma baseball team is back in the mix and trending upward.
After a rough few weeks in Southeastern Conference play, the 14th-ranked Sooners have won three of their last four games to get to .500 at just beyond the halfway point of the league slate. Friday’s 9-6 win over Missouri allowed Oklahoma to move to 8-8, tied with three other teams for eighth in the standings.
Friday’s win wasn’t truly that close, even. OU took a 9-3 lead into the ninth before Mizzou made it somewhat interesting with three runs in the frame. Two of them came with two outs, though, and Mason Bixby induced a groundout with the bases empty to hold on.
The large edge came via a home run-happy night. The Sooners popped four over the wall at Kimrey Family Stadium, including three in a four-run seventh inning that gave OU a four-run lead.
Jason Walk, who hit one of the four homers, had the best day at the plate. He went 2 for 5 with the shot, three RBIs and a run. Camden Johnson, who also homered, went 2 for 3 with a walk, a double and two runs, and Dasan Harris went 2 for 4 with a home run, two RBIs, and three runs. Trey Gambill hit the Sooners’ other jack.
Oklahoma jumped out to a four-run lead in the second behind four hits and a walk. Missouri helped the Sooners out with an error that resulted in a bases-loaded situation and three unearned runs registered to Tigers starter Josh McDevitt.
The runs were more than enough for Oklahoma’s LJ Mercurius, who pitched six strong innings, giving up three runs on six hits with no walks and nine strikeouts.
Game 2 in the series is set for 4 p.m. Saturday and the finale will be played Sunday at 2 p.m., weather permitting.
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