Despite his 39 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said it was the Thunder's defense, which held Mavs stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to a combined 33 points, that carried the team to a 118-104 win.

In a win-or-go-home matchup against the 16-8 Dallas Mavericks, the Oklahoma City Thunder captured a 118-104 win in the NBA Cup quarterfinal game.

The Bucks lost in last season’s semifinals to the Indiana Pacers, a memory that was fresh in the mind of Lillard. “We didn’t have the greatest of experience there last year,” the 34-year-old said after the victory. “So, I think all of us are thinking, going back and finishing what we started last year and doing it right this time.”