The second-ever NBA Cup Winner will crowned Tuesday evening when the Milwaukee Bucks challenge the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Thunder are 4.5-point favorites at BetMGM. Bettors are quite keen on OKC at that number, as 88% of the money is on the Thunder to cover, per BetMGM's data. The OVER 215.5 points is a popular bet, too, with 61% of the handle on that bet.
The Thunder vs Bucks player props for this one are interesting, as Giannis Antetokounmpo highlights the most bet-on props, just perhaps not in the category you might think. More on that later.
Below, I'll highlight where the betting action is for the NBA Cup Finals and what we can learn from the Bucks vs Thunder betting handles:
Bucks vs Thunder Betting Handle
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 8:30 p.m. ET
| Team | Spread | % Bets | % Handle | Total | % Bets | % Handle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Bucks | +4.5 | 31% | 12% | O215.5 | 70% | 61% |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | -4.5 | 69% | 88% | U215.5 | 30% | 39% |
Betting Handle per BetMGM
Tailing the Public on Thunder to cover
As our NBA expert Chris Walder points out, the Thunder don’t just win — they dominate and leave little doubt about who’s better. They’ve won nine of their last 10 games straight up, covering the spread in six of those, with one of the three missed covers still resulting in a 10-point victory. Even the Thunder's Dec. 1 loss to Houston was quickly avenged in the in-season tournament semifinals, where they cruised to a 15-point win as 5.5-point favorites.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee has been solid straight up but remains unreliable against the spread, going just 10-14-1 ATS with four covers in their last nine. With the Thunder’s top-ranked defense stifling opponents and well-suited to contain Damian Lillard, Oklahoma City is the smart play on the spread.
If you're not interested in game picks for tonight's NBA Cup Finals, BetMGM has also provided us the most bet on Bucks vs Thunder player props:
Five Most Bet Bucks vs Thunder Player Props
- Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 11.5 Rebounds (-150)
- Khris Middleton Over 3.5 Assists (-155)
- Damian Lillard Over 23.5 Points (-110)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 30.5 Points (-110)
- Isaiah Hartenstein Over 22.5 Total points and rebounds (-150)
After a quick dig on the number, it's no surprise to see the public obsessed with an OVER bet on Giannis' total rebounds ahead of this NBA Cup Finals. The Bucks forward has only cashed this OVER in two of his last seven contests, but he's hit 11 rebounds in three games during that span. Now, Giannis faces a Thunder defense that allows more total rebounds per game (49.55) than any other team in the NBA.
Chris Walder also likes Giannis to cash his OVER 30.5 points. Antetokounmpo has topped 30.5 points in three straight games, four of his last five, and eight of his last 10. Even in one of his two misses, he still scored 30, just a free throw shy of another OVER.
