NBA Cup Final Tips: We've a 13/1 Bet Builder for Tuesday's match

Many were sceptical when the NBA Cup was first announced, but there is no doubt now that it has been an absolute success.

The knockout games are fun and provide a welcome spark to the slump the league often endures before the trade season livens up. We’re onto this year’s final, and it certainly promises to be a fun affair as the Oklahoma City Thunder, the top seed in the West, play the resurgent Milwaukee Bucks.

When the lights are brightest, you want your biggest stars to shine, which is precisely what we’re predicting.

We’re not going to make a general prediction for the result (although we’d be tempted by the Thunder but not covering the spread), so instead, Peter Sharland is offering two bets for either team to make a five-tip bet builder for the game.

So here are his Oklahoma City Thunder @ Milwaukee Bucks betting tips.

1:30am – Oklahoma City Thunder @ Milwaukee Bucks Tips

Total Points: Over 214
Giannis Antetokounmpo over 29.5 total points
Damian Lillard 3+ made threes
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to score 30+ points
Isiah Hartenstein 11.5+ rebounds

A Bet Builder with these bets pays at approximately 13/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.

Total Points: Over 214

But we start with the total points. If you take the last five games that both sides have played only once in those ten, this points figure has not been breached.

Of course, finals can often be cagey affairs, but the beauty of the NBA Cup for neutral fans is that it has the perfect balance of importance.

It’s a competition that these ultra-competitive athletes want to win, but it is nowhere near the significance of the finals.

Therefore, we should still see some exciting basketball because the pressure of the moment won’t inhibit the players.

Giannis Antetokounmpo over 29.5 total points & Damian Lillard 3+ made threes

Maybe Giannis and Dame can play together after all. It’s probably too early to tell, but their recent play is exactly how we all envisaged the partnership working when the blockbuster trade first happened.

Giannis has been the dominant force, making him among the world’s best two or three players. Lillard has thrived in a secondary role, focusing more on playmaking and drilling threes. This is exactly the opposite of his career in Portland, where he was often the only star of the show.

Giannis’s presence can free him up in Milwaukee, which will become even more important as he goes further into his 30s.

Giannis has hit 30 or more in his last five games, while Lillard has nailed three or more threes in three of his last five. We like these bets in this game despite the calibre of defence they’ll be playing.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to score 30+ points & Isiah Hartenstein over 11.5 total rebounds

What about the Thunder, then? As mentioned above, the defence has been stellar recently (they’ve allowed just 101.4 ppg in their last five), but the offence has been a bit hit-and-miss.

Therefore, we’re going with Hartenstein to continue his fine form and go big on the board. He’s had over 11.5 rebounds in three of his last four games.

Meanwhile, for Gilgeous-Alexander, we prefer to play it safe and go with 30+ rather than his personal over/under, which is a little higher at 32.5.

He’s gone 30+ in each of his last four, but only once in that run did he get over 32.5.