Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Giannis Antetokounmpo headline the NBA Cup finals. Both MVP candidates can utilize the national platform to boost their MVP cases. While the Thunder have been the league's best team, the Bucks are always a viable title threat and have recently played better.

The Mavericks had their seven-game win streak snapped in the NBA Cup quarterfinals against the Thunder. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving had two of their worst games of the season. OKC has constructed the perfect roster to limit Dallas' two superstars. That traces back to last year's playoff series despite the result.

Eight teams made the knockout stage after round-robin group play that involved all 30 NBA teams in the league's second annual in-season tournament. The Magic, Knicks, Mavericks and Warriors were knocked out in the quarterfinals earlier in the week.