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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.
NORMAN — The Sooners were behind the eight ball for much of Tuesday’s game against Oral Roberts.
But one swing of the bat got them in a more favorable position.
Shortstop Jaxon Willits blasted a grand slam in the sixth inning to give No. 14 Oklahoma its first lead before eventually winning 7-6.
The Sooners trailed by as many as five runs before they rallied late.
In the first inning, Oral Roberts’ Cooper Combs hit a two-out grand slam to give the Golden Eagles a comfortable cushion. OU infielder Deiten Lachance got the Sooners on the board in the second inning with a solo home run, but ORU responded with a solo shot of its own in the next frame.
The Golden Eagles made it a 6-1 run game in the top of the fourth, and they appeared to be on cruise control. But in the bottom of that frame, OU’s rally began.
Dasan Harris made it a four-run game again with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth before Camden Johnson hit a sacrifice fly of his own in the fifth.
Then, in the sixth, the Sooners took their first lead of the game.
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Harris singled before Kyle Branch and Connor Larkin walked to load the bases. Willits then swung at the first pitch he saw, sending it well over the right-center field fence.
Neither team scored after Willits’ home run, as OU relief pitcher Xander Mercurius retired nine ORU batters in a row to seal the Sooners’ one-run win.
Michael Catalano started on the mound for Oklahoma, but his outing was short-lived — he gave up four earned runs on two hits and five walks in 1 ⅓ innings.
After coach Skip Johnson relieved Catalano in the second inning, six different OU arms entered the game. Reid Hensley collected the win, while Mercurius got the save.
OU improved to 28-12 overall with the win, while Oral Roberts dropped to 23-15. The Sooners are 7-3 in midweek games this season, and they clinched the season sweep of the Golden Eagles on Tuesday.
Next, the Sooners will hit the road for a three-game series against Auburn. The Tigers, ranked No. 11 by D1Baseball, are 10-8 in SEC play and took two of three games against Florida over the weekend.
The series will open on Friday, and first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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NORMAN — After an up-and down week that saw Oklahoma drop the lone Bedlam match of the season, and then split two tight games with Arkansas before blowing out the Razorbacks on Sunday, the Sooners remained No. 1 in the NFCA/Go Rout coaches’ poll released Tuesday.
But there’s far from a consensus.
Oklahoma received 12 first-place votes — the same total they had last week — but five other teams received first-place votes.
Texas Tech remained No. 2 with four four-place votes and Alabama No. 3 with seven. Nebraska moved up two spots to No. 4 with four first-place votes, followed by Florida with two and UCLA with two.
Texas is No. 7, followed by Tennessee, Arkansas and Florida State.
Texas A&M, the Sooners’ opponent for the final regular-season weekend in two weeks, comes in at No. 11.
Other SEC teams include Georgia at No. 15, Mississippi State at No. 17 and LSU at No. 20.
OU hosts the Georgia Bulldogs in a three-game series beginning Friday.
Other Sooners’ opponents this season in the polls include No. 14 Duke, No. 18 Oklahoma State, No. 19 Arizona, No. 24 Arizona State and No. 25 Washington.
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Oklahoma also remained in the top spot in the D1Softball poll, with Alabama No. 2 there followed by Texas Tech, Nebraska at Texas.
The Sooners dropped a spot in the Softball America poll, with Nebraska elevating to No. 1 behind the two-way stardom of former OU standout Jordy Frahm (formerly Jordy Bahl).
Frahm is 13-4 with a 1.36 ERA and 157 strikeouts in 118 2/3 innings in the circle and hitting .440 with 16 home runs and 42 RBIs. Another former Sooners player, Hannah Coor, is among the Cornhuskers’ regulars as well.
The Sooners have 158 home runs, just three away from tying their own season record in the category, but UCLA has closed the gap in a major way, sitting just four behind Oklahoma.
OU freshman sensation Kendall Wells leads the nation with 34 home runs, three ahead of UCLA’s Megan Grant. Wells tied Jocelyn Alo‘s program record for home runs in a season with her home run in Sunday’s win.
The Sooners host Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 6 p.m. Tuesday in their final non-conference game of the season before opening the series against Georgia at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Love’s FIeld.
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Putnam City West High School will shift to virtual learning on Tuesday after an incident involving two students prompted an investigation by the district and Oklahoma City police, according to Putnam City Schools.
District officials said administrators were alerted near the end of the school day Monday to an altercation involving two students in the school’s arena area.
Officials said the students left campus, and the case was turned over to Putnam City Campus Police and the Oklahoma City Police Department for investigation.
District officials said no students or staff were harmed and there is no ongoing safety threat related to the incident.
What we know
Putnam City West sent the following email to all families and staff at the school:
All PCW students and staff will transition to virtual learning for Tuesday, April 21st.
Today, an isolated serious incident involving two students occurred on school grounds. Near the end of the school day, administrators were alerted to an altercation between two students in the arena area. The individuals involved quickly left campus, prompting an initial fact-finding response by school administrators before the matter was turned over to Putnam City Campus Police and the Oklahoma City Police Department for further investigation. Because this is an active investigation involving students, no further information will be released at this time.
We understand this information may be concerning to students, staff, and families. Please know we are committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and positive learning environment for all students. At Putnam City Schools, student and staff safety remains our highest priority. Therefore, out of an abundance of caution and to allow for a thorough investigation, all PCW students and staff will transition to virtual learning for Tuesday, April 21st. Students will need to check Google Classroom for updates from teachers.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support of PC West.
Putnam City Schools
All students and staff at Putnam City West will transition to virtual learning on Tuesday, April 21, while investigators continue their work, according to the district.
Students were told to check Google Classroom for instructions from teachers.
The district said it is withholding additional details because the case involves students and remains under investigation.
School officials have not said what triggered the incident or whether any arrests have been made.
This is a developing story. Updates will be added as more information becomes available.
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