NBA Cup semifinals tip off on Saturday

The GIST: The NBA Cup, the league’s second annual in-season tournament, is heading to Sin City, with four teams vying for a spot in Tuesday’s grand finale. What happens in Vegas…will send every player on the championship-winning team home with a sweet payday, so let’s toss up the ball and preview tomorrow’s semis tilts.

Eastern Conference: No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 3 seed Atlanta Hawks, 4:30 p.m. ET: The Hawks took a page out of Troy Bolton’s book, soarin’ and flyin’ to seven wins in their last eight games, led by the three-pronged attack of Trae Young, Jalen Johnson, and De’Andre Hunter.

• But Atlanta’s not the only squad that’s found their rhythm: Giannis Antetokounmpo (pronounced ah-det-oh-KOON-boh) and his Bucks are winners of nine of their last 11 and have revenge top of mind.

Western Conference: No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 2 seed Houston Rockets, 8:30 p.m. ET: Controversial quarter-final win aside, the Jalen Green–led Rockets are shooting for the moon, posting the second-best record in the conference despite missing the playoffs entirely last season.

• Standing in their way? Perennial MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the best-in-the-West Thunder. Fireworks, loading.