Duke basketball has always been a breeding ground for talented players, and Gary Trent Jr. is no exception. In a thrilling semifinal showdown in Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, Trent and the Milwaukee Bucks advanced to the second edition of the NBA Cup championship game with a 110 - 102 win over the Atlanta Hawks. This victory came despite Trent's off day, as he averaged single-digit points for the first time since his second season in 2019 - 20 and finished with just one point in his 22 minutes on the bench, shooting 0 - for - 5 from the field and 0 - for - 4 from deep, with 1 - for - 2 at the charity stripe. He also grabbed only one rebound and recorded no other stats except for two fouls.

Even in the Face of Challenges

Even with this subpar performance, the former second - round draft pick, now in his first campaign with the Bucks, managed to post a bench - high +8 plus/minus. The Bucks, who had a concerning 2 - 8 start, have since won 12 of 15 games and are now in a much better position. As for the Hawks (14 - 13), with 2020 - 21 Duke basketball one - and - done forward Jalen Johnson emerging as a full - time starter under third - year Atlanta head coach and 58 - year - old Blue Devil alum Quin Snyder, they had won six of eight games before this loss. Now, they find themselves one spot below the Bucks at No. 7 in the Eastern Conference standings. Johnson, who is having an outstanding season as a double - double machine, averaging 19.6 points and 10.1 boards per contest, chipped in 15 and 10, along with four assists and one steal, in his 39 minutes of play.

The Upcoming NBA Cup Showdown

Gary Trent Jr. and the Milwaukee Bucks will face the Oklahoma City Thunder (20 - 5) for the NBA Cup in Vegas at 8:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday (ABC). This rematch will be an exciting battle as both teams have shown their mettle in the tournament so far. In the inaugural NBA Cup last December, 2018 - 19 Duke basketball one - and - done forward Cam Reddish was in the starting lineup for the victorious Los Angeles Lakers, contributing 9 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist in the 123 - 109 win over the Indiana Pacers in T-Mobile Arena. Duke basketball continues to make its mark in the NBA, and fans are eagerly awaiting more news from the Duke Blue Devils. Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more Duke basketball updates.