Isiah Hartenstein reached the Final Four at this year’s NBA Cup with Oklahoma City. For Maxi Kleber and the Dallas Mavericks, however, the title dream is over.
Isaiah Hartenstein reached the Final Four for the NBA Cup with the Oklahoma City Thunder and had the chance to win his first title in the best basketball league in the world.
The German center had a good evening in the 118:114 win against the Dallas Mavericks and recorded 10 points, 13 rebounds and 3 assists for his team.
The man of the evening was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 39 points for OKC, who will face the winner of the game between the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors in the semifinals. For Maxi Kleber, who was ill and did not play, the chance of winning the title with the Mavs was lost.
Milwaukee Bucks travel to Las Vegas
The Milwaukee Bucks were the first team from the Eastern Conference to book a ticket for the trip to Las Vegas, where the cup will be played for the second time starting this weekend. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s team defeated the Orlando Magic 114:109.
Without Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero and other injured players, the Magic took the lead again in the final minutes, but in the end they had no means left against the Bucks. Moritz Wagner scored 13 points as a substitute, while his German teammate Tristan Da Silva scored six points. The best thrower of the game was Antetokounmpo with 37 points.
Who will be the successor to the LA Lakers?
Four teams have a chance of succeeding the Lakers. The Bucks will play either the New York Knicks or the Atlanta Hawks in their semifinal. The two remaining quarter-finals are on Thursday night in Germany.
The Final Four begins on Saturday in Las Vegas, and the winners will determine the successor to the Los Angeles Lakers, who won the premiere a year ago, on the German night of Wednesday next week.