The Emirates NBA Cup officially comes to a close with tonight's championship game between the Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder. So, our staff of basketball experts dug into the latest odds and identified all the best betting value on the board for today's marquee matchup. Tipoff from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Our betting experts have looked over the odds and made 4 NBA picks for the NBA Cup Final tonight. Continue below for our NBA best bets and predictions for Tuesday, December 17.
NBA Best Bets Today, Predictions, Picks: Tuesday, December 17
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Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Bucks vs. Thunder
By Joe Dellera
I don’t see a way in which the Thunder can afford to keep Isaiah Hartenstein off the floor very much tonight, as he should be one of the primary defenders guarding Giannis Antetokounmpo for the majority of the contest.
Hartenstein is averaging 12.5 points and 12.3 rebounds per game for OKC this season, and he has exceeded this mark in 70% of games.
Hartenstein’s ability to draw defenders away from the paint despite not being a 3-point shooting threat is also critical, as it opens up more roll options for him and keeps him relatively matchup-proof.
Tonight, given that it’s the Cup Final, I can see Coach Daigneault finally running some of his starters extra minutes.
While there’s always concern of foul trouble when defending Giannis, Hartenstein has yet to foul out this year, and only did so three times last year.
The minutes upside has greater value. I’d play this up to 23.5.
Pick: Isaiah Hartenstein Over 22.5 Points + Rebounds (-140)
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Bucks vs. Thunder
All eyes in the Association will shift to the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas as Milwaukee takes on Oklahoma City in the Emirates Cup final.
Although few would argue that there's been a better team than the Thunder (20-5) this season, the Bucks are a team that's also on the ascent, winning 12 of their last 14 games following a 4-9 start.
Over the last few years, we've seen the Thunder climb up the ranks as one of the most up-and-coming teams, but the Bucks have been a bit of a bugaboo for them, losing eight of the last 10 meetings.
Milwaukee was shorthanded in both losses, with Giannis Antetokounmpo missing one game and the former Buck, Jrue Holiday, sidelined for another.
The Bucks will be well aware of their success in this series, thus presenting another hurdle the Thunder will have to overcome.
Interestingly, the one thing this group of OKC players might struggle with in their quest for an NBA title is inexperience. It's still the youngest team in the league, with an average age of 24.2 years.
Beating this Bucks team at full strength is no easy task, given their current form, and with Milwaukee catching five points on a neutral floor, I'll take my chance with experience prevailing over youth.
Pick: Bucks +5 (-112)
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Bucks vs. Thunder
Something never before said prior to an NBA Cup final — this feels like an "Isaiah Joe Game."
Not to the standpoint of where he completely takes it over necessarily, let's not get crazy, but it does feel like the Thunder will make an honest attempt to spread the ball around and challenge the Bucks' quickness on the perimeter.
Joe is -115 to hit two threes tonight — he has done this 17 times in 23 games this season. Joe is also +230 to knockdown three from long range, which he has done 11 times, nearly half his appearances.
Isaiah Joe is seriously the first person I thought of before diving into props for this game, and my instincts are telling me that he should get enough clean looks to cash in this spot, given the gravity Shai Gilgeous-Alexander provides (Jalen Williams, too!).
Pick: Isaiah Joe 2+ Three-Pointers Made (-115)
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Bucks vs. Thunder
In the end, the NBA Cup didn't do much to catapult the Lakers into a big season after their win in Las Vegas.
The Thunder, however, have a different feel about them after looking like the NBA's best team for much of the first seven weeks of the season and having romped past capable Rockets and Mavericks squads.
On the other hand, what the NBA Cup has done for the Bucks, is instill confidence in a middling team after a slow start and gives the league a featured team and star (Giannis) for this showcase event.
But despite reaching the finale, Milwaukee has flattened a bit the past couple of weeks, while Giannis, Damian Lillard, and Khris Middleton all appear on the injury report for tonight (though each expected to play).
It was nice to see the Bucks get this far in some type of playoff format after such a disheartening start to the season, but this is a weird spot for Milwaukee. I'll lay the points with the Thunder.
Pick: Thunder -4.5 (-115)
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