The Milwaukee Bucks have continued their tradition of dominating in the NBA Cup. As the in-season tournament hits the homestretch of its group stage, Milwaukee is sitting pretty with a 3-0 record in East Group B. That puts them in prime position to advance to the knockout round, but they’re not there just yet.

Let’s break down where they stand, how the NBA Cup works, and what they need to do to punch their ticket to Vegas.

The NBA Cup: How It Works

Think of the NBA Cup as a turbocharged sprint within the marathon of an 82-game season. It’s designed to add stakes to November, a month that’s often overshadowed by NFL dominance and early-season NBA rust. Here’s the format:

1. Group Stage: The league’s 30 teams are divided into six groups (three per conference), each with five teams. Every team plays four games against group opponents. These games count toward regular-season standings, but there’s more on the line—only the six group winners and two wild-card teams (the top second-place finishers in each conference) advance to the knockout round.
2. Knockout Stage: Once the top eight teams are set, it’s single-elimination basketball. Quarterfinals take place at the higher seed’s home arena, while the semifinals and championship game are played in Las Vegas. The championship game doesn’t count in the standings—but it does come with bragging rights and a cash bonus.

Bucks in 2024: Group B Dominance

The Bucks have been dominant so far. Their 3-0 record in group play puts them atop East Group B, and it’s been a team effort despite some significant lineup challenges.

• Game 1 (Nov. 12): Milwaukee opened with a gritty 99-85 win over the Toronto Raptors. It wasn’t their cleanest performance, but defense carried the day as they clamped down late.
• Game 2 (Nov. 22): Giannis Antetokounmpo decided the Indiana Pacers would not be the ones to slow him down, dropping a triple-double in a 129-117 win that wasn’t as close as the score suggests.
• Game 3 (Nov. 26): With Antetokounmpo sidelined due to knee swelling, Damian Lillard reminded everyone why Milwaukee traded for him. Lillard torched the Miami Heat for 37 points and 12 assists, carrying the Bucks to a nail-biting 106-103 victory.

How the Bucks Can Clinch

Milwaukee’s final group-stage game is on Dec. 3 against the Detroit Pistons. A win would guarantee them the top spot in Group B and a spot in the knockout round. Simple enough, right?

But if they lose, things get complicated. Tiebreakers come into play, and the NBA’s criteria can feel like algebra homework:

1. Head-to-head record (which won’t help if multiple teams tie).
2. Point differential in group play (Milwaukee currently has a healthy +29).
3. Total points scored in group play.
4. Last season’s regular-season record.
5. Random drawing if two or more teams are still tied following the previous tiebreakers

What’s at Stake?

Yes, there’s a trophy, and yes, the players get paid—each member of the winning team takes home $514,971, which is a nice bonus even for stars. But the NBA Cup is also about bragging rights and momentum. Winning the tournament sends a message to the rest of the league: Milwaukee is here, they’re cohesive, and they’re ready to contend.

For a team like the Bucks, who are trying to overcome a slow start, these high-leverage games offer a chance to iron out kinks and build chemistry. Antetokounmpo and Lillard look like they’ve improved from last season, but nothing accelerates that process like meaningful games with real stakes.

This year’s NBA Cup isn’t just a midseason distraction. It’s a proving ground, and the Bucks are determined to leave their mark. If they can clinch their spot in the knockout round and carry their momentum to Vegas, they’ll have a chance to add a new kind of hardware to the franchise’s trophy case.