The Bucks have won 12 of their last 15 games to take a lot of the stink off their name, but it has come against a very soft schedule. They have also made this run largely for one reason: They've gotten hot from 3 -- 2nd in the league at 40.9 percent over that stretch. But OKC is not only way better than any team Milwaukee has beaten, but is specifically murder on opponents' 3-point shooting. Milwaukee is still a flawed team and OKC is going to expose that by shutting off the one thing that's been carrying the Bucks' success.

Cason Wallace of the Oklahoma City Thunder has earned himself a starting role this season. The combo guard is averaging over thirty minutes but averaging just 6.9 points per game. He’s shooting the ball at just 41.8 percent and does not get to the free throw line. Yet, look for the Bucks primary defense to target SGA and Jalen Williams giving Wallace some extra opportunities. On 6 to 7 shot attempts look for Wallace to make just enough to go over his points prop.

The Thunder are 20-5 this season. Of their 20 wins, 19 of them have come by at least five points. Their defense has been suffocating, allowing an average of just 103.5 points per game. Meanwhile, the Bucks have allowed an average of 111.9 points per game. As good as the Bucks have looked lately, the Thunder are the vastly superior team, so I’ll take them to cover.

The Bucks give up the second-most rebounds to opposing point guards (6.86 per game). In NBA Cup games, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 24.8 potential assists and rebounds. He has cleared this prop total in five straight NBA Cup games and in the last four, he has registered at least 13 rebounds plus assists.

Both teams feature major star power and have won 12 of their last 15 games. But in a vote of SportsLine Discord members, a whopping 67 percent favored OKC to cover the spread in Tuesday's NBA Cup Final from Las Vegas. (Note: The poll was taken when the spread was OKC -4.5). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 32.2 points in Cup play, while Isaiah Hartenstein has contributed 11.5 points and 11 boards per game, helping compensate for Chet Holmgren's absence. Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is shooting 61.4 percent this season while pouring in nearly 33 points per game. To join the Discord, click "Join Our Community" from the SportsLine homepage.

The Thunder could use the NBA Cup as a real launching pad after looking like the NBA's best team for the first seven weeks of the season and having romped past the capable Mavs and Rockets to reach the finale tonight in Las Vegas. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is putting his personal stamp on this event , especially with another 32 points on Saturday vs. Houston after 39 points last Tuesday vs. Dallas. As for the Bucks, they've recovered from a slow start and give the league a featured team for this showcase. But Milwaukee has flattened a bit the past two weeks, while three key cogs (Antetokuonmpo, Lillard and Middleton) appear on the injury report tonight, though each expected to play. Play Thunder (at Las Vegas)

The Thunder arent quite what they were a year ago, but it's coming together. They have scored 111 or more in 6 straight and are spreading the ball around. The Bucks are a middling defensive team. MIL has really struggled outside its division (6-12 ATS) and is a middling covering team in general (5-5 last 10, 7-10 last 17). OKC is 4-0 ATS vs East and 13-7 ATS outside their division. And they are hot, covering 7 of their last 9. Have covered 3 of their last 4 as a favorite of 5-10 points.

Caesar’s. Giannis Antetokounmpo has cleared this line in 13 of 20 games with Damian Lillard this season, including 8 of the last 10. Bucks coach Doc Rivers has not been afraid to run up Giannis’ court time either, with the Greek Freak registering 36-38 minutes over the last six non-blowouts - would expect that to be his floor in the Emirates Cup Finals. The Thunder are a tougher team on paper, but they also do not have a solid individual matchup for Antetokounmpo (and they do have several plus defenders to throw at Damian Lillard). I’d play this line up to over 42.5.