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Lakers Catch Stray From Bucks in NBA Cup Celebration

After winning the NBA Cup, the Bucks threw some shade at the Lakers.

By Cem Yolbulan

Feb 9, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) reacts on the bench after a foul call in the first half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Feb 9, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) reacts on the bench after a foul call in the first half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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The Milwaukee Bucks took home the second-ever NBA Cup trophy home on Tuesday night after a dominant performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Giannis Antetokounmpo had a statement game against the best team in the Western Conference to show everyone that the Bucks are still a force to be reckoned with.

This was also the second straight NBA Cup championship for former Lakers head coach Darvin Ham. After joining the Bucks coaching staff in the offseason, Ham remains undefeated in 14 NBA Cup games. His post-game reaction this time around was completely different.

After winning the championship, the Bucks decided not to celebrate. Head coach Doc Rivers told NBA reporter Chris Haynes that the team was not going to pop any champagne after consulting with Ham. He alluded to the fact that the Lakers celebrated their win in Las Vegas and lost their focus for the remainder of the season.

Darvin Ham & Bucks Take A Shot at the Lakers After NBA Cup Win

There is perhaps some truth to this statement by Rivers. After winning the In-Season Tournament last year, the Lakers went 3-10 in their next 13 games and fell to 17-19 for the season. That was their worst stretch of the season and was one of the big reasons why they ended up falling to the seventh seed and facing the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs.

Ham is smart not to make the same mistake again. The Bucks are 14-11 for the season and can't afford a losing streak to push them down in the Eastern Conference.

The Lakers, on the other hand, lost in the group stages of the NBA Cup this time around. Flaming out early didn't help them too much, however, as they continue the up-and-down performance that has them in tenth place in the Western Conference.

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