The full details and schedule for the 2024-25 NBA Cup have been revealed, and the Milwaukee Bucks find themselves in an interesting group. Their group, known as East B, includes the Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons.
Let's analyze the schedule.
Bucks' 2024-25 NBA Cup Schedule
Nov. 12 vs. Toronto Raptors
Nov. 22 vs. Indiana Pacers
Nov. 26 @ Miami Heat
Dec. 03 @ Detroit Pistons
What to make of the Bucks' NBA Cup Schedule
This is a fascinating four-game slate for the Milwaukee Bucks. Each game will present new storylines, such as Gary Trent Jr. facing his former team, the Raptors, or Damian Lillard squaring off against the Miami Heat, the team that everyone thought would trade for him last offseason before Milwaukee swooped in out of nowhere and landed him.
Yet, by far the most interesting game on the schedule is the must-see rematch between the Bucks and Pacers. A new rivalry was formed between these two teams last season, as tensions always flared when they faced off. Of course, the game-ball fiasco was the primary catalyst for all of this. Since then, these two teams have made it clear that they don't like one another.
The intensity got cranked up a notch in the NBA Playoffs, where these two teams had a hard-fought six-game series. Indiana prevailed over a shorthanded Milwaukee team, which should only give the Bucks more fuel in this particular meeting. Indiana also beat the Bucks in the In-Season Tournament in 2023-24, adding even more fuel to the fire in what will be a must-see matchup.
What do the NBA Cup winners get?
Last season, in addition to receiving a shiny trophy, every winning player received a $500,000 prize. If the NBA wants to go bigger this coming season, perhaps they will raise that amount to up the stakes.
Many people still are not used to the NBA Cup, but if last year is anything to go by, it could be a unique way to add some intensity to these matchups, as these tend to feel like playoff games.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.