Adam Silver has to be happy with the star power on display for tonight's NBA Cup final in Las Vegas 15— and for Giannis Antetokounmpo, it’s a chance to lift silverware for the first time since the Milwaukee Bucks’ championship run in 2021.
However, it’s going to take an A+ outing from the Bucks to slow down a hungry, surging Oklahoma City Thunder team that’s won five in a row and nine of its last 10 games.
For Milwaukee, it all starts with the Greek Freak, and I’m diving into the Giannis Antetokounmpo odds and NBA player props for this monster December 17 matchup.
Giannis Antetokounmpo prop picks for December 17
- Best bet
Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 1.5 blocks
(+100 at bet365) - SGP Pick
Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 1.5 blocks
Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 0.5 steals
Thunder moneyline
(+475 at bet365)
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
Giannis Antetokounmpo best bet
My best bet
Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 1.5 blocks (+100 at bet365)
My analysis
If the Milwaukee Bucks are going to pull off an upset, it’s going to require a big Giannis Antetokounmpo offensive game — and an even more dominant effort on the defensive end.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have scored 116+ points in five of their six outings this month, and that’s an ominous trend for a Milwaukee team with some glaring flaws at that end of the floor.
However, the Bucks can at least make Shai Gilgeous-Alexander & Co. work hard for their points in the paint, where dunks and layups should be in short supply.
Alongside Brook Lopez, Antetokounmpo has made a habit of papering over Milwaukee’s issues on the perimeter, and my favorite Giannis props for tonight lean towards his defensive stats, particularly with OKC’s swarming guards putting any points prop under real pressure.
Without Chet Holmgren, the Thunder lack a little size in the frontcourt, and if Lopez or Bobby Portis is matched up with Isaiah Hartenstein, Giannis will have chances to roam in the paint. He’s been a menace as a rim protector in the NBA Cup knockout rounds, and he’s racked up 11 blocks across his last three games. Doc Rivers has to be hoping for a repeat performance here, and the Green Freak will likely approach the 40-minute mark once again.
This tournament has breathed life into Milwaukee’s season, and I expect Giannis to be flying around tonight. He’s never shy about contesting shots at the rim, and we could get some chase-down blocks against a Thunder team that prides itself on creating turnovers.
Giannis Antetokounmpo same-game parlay
Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 1.5 blocks
Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 0.5 steals
Thunder moneyline
I’m doubling down on an Antetokounmpo defensive masterclass with the Over on his steals prop. His length and fast hands should be a major factor, particularly as the Thunder love to play at a fast pace and will live with a few turnovers in the process.
Even though this OKC roster got plenty of playoff experience last season, we could see a few nerves early in the game from a young group. Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo has the defensive instincts to punish Thunder mistakes, and he’s finished with at least one steal in four of his last five contests. Going further back, Giannis averaged 1.2 spg in the 2023/24 season.
Despite the potential for Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard to go supernova here, it’s tough to bet against the talent and depth that OKC brings to the table. MVP frontrunner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been a crunch-time killer, and there are no weak links defensively, so I worry about Lillard scoring efficiently against SGA, Alex Caruso, and Lu Dort.
Mark Daigneault has the luxury of a conveyor belt of two-way options off the bench, and I expect that to eventually wear the Bucks down, especially in the brief stints where Giannis or Dame is off the court. The Milwaukee second unit isn’t on the level of its OKC counterparts.
The Thunder have put together a 16-7-2 ATS record this year while separating themselves in a tier of their own in the West, and tonight is set to be the latest statement from a relentless team ready to win big.
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