Thunder 122–102 Bucks: SGA Drops 40 as Short-Handed OKC Makes Statement in Milwaukee
The Oklahoma City Thunder delivered a champion’s performance on the road, dismantling the Milwaukee Bucks 122–102 at Fiserv Forum behind a dominant night from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Playing without several rotation pieces, the Thunder were sharp, ruthless and in control from the opening tip, improving to 35–8 and reinforcing their status as the NBA’s defending champions. Milwaukee, meanwhile, fell to 17–24, with familiar defensive issues exposed again in a lopsided home loss.
For searches like “Thunder vs Bucks recap,” “SGA 40 points vs Bucks,” and “Bucks defensive struggles,” this game will stand as a defining example.
First Half: 38–18 Opening Quarter Decides Thunder vs Bucks Early
The tone of Thunder vs Bucks was set in the opening 12 minutes.
First Quarter
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Thunder 38, Bucks 18
Oklahoma City exploded out of the gate, pushing pace, spacing the floor, and overwhelming Milwaukee defensively. Gilgeous-Alexander controlled the game immediately, carving up the Bucks with mid-range pull-ups, drives, and timely kick-outs when help arrived.
Milwaukee never recovered from the slow start.
The Bucks steadied somewhat in the second quarter:
Second Quarter
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Bucks 33, Thunder 31
Giannis Antetokounmpo tried to drag Milwaukee back into the game, but the Thunder’s offense remained fluid and efficient. Despite being outscored in the quarter, OKC still entered halftime comfortably ahead 69–51.
A key moment came late in the half when SGA drilled a contested three over Kyle Kuzma with 38 seconds left, restoring an 18-point cushion and halting a brief Bucks surge.
Second Half: Thunder Answer Every Push
The pattern after halftime was clear: Milwaukee makes a run, Oklahoma City responds.
Third Quarter
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Thunder 30, Bucks 26
Each time the Bucks trimmed the margin toward 15, the Thunder countered with a combination of threes, downhill attacks, and defensive stops to push the lead back near 20.
Fourth Quarter
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Bucks 25, Thunder 23
By the final period, the competitive portion of the game was effectively over. Milwaukee won the quarter on paper but never seriously threatened, as OKC managed the game with poise and discipline.
Box Score Highlights
Oklahoma City Thunder
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander:
40 points, 11 assists, 16-of-19 shooting
An ultra-efficient masterclass, scoring at all three levels while creating open looks for teammates. -
Team scoring by quarter:
38 – 31 – 30 – 23 = 122
Even short-handed, OKC received timely contributions across the rotation, knocking down open shots generated by SGA’s gravity and defending with consistent energy.
Milwaukee Bucks
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Giannis Antetokounmpo:
19 points, double-digit rebounds, but unable to fully impose himself on the game. -
Cole Anthony:
17 points on 77.8% shooting, one of the few offensive bright spots off the bench. -
Team scoring by quarter:
18 – 33 – 26 – 25 = 102
The numbers mask how disjointed Milwaukee looked defensively, particularly early, when the game slipped away.
What Thunder vs Bucks Revealed
Thunder: Championship Composure
Even without a full roster, Oklahoma City played with structure, confidence, and edge, turning early dominance into a stress-free road win.
SGA’s MVP-Level Night
A 40-point, 11-assist performance on near-perfect efficiency only strengthens Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP case and his reputation as one of the league’s most unguardable players.
Bucks: Defensive Alarms Growing Louder
This marked Milwaukee’s fourth straight loss to OKC, with recurring problems:
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Slow starts
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Poor point-of-attack defense
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Inconsistent team cohesion
Against elite teams, those flaws continue to be punished.
Final Word
Thunder vs Bucks was billed as a marquee matchup. It turned into a statement.
Behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s brilliance and a relentless team effort, the Thunder rolled to a 122–102 win in Milwaukee, looking every bit like champions — even while short-handed. For the Bucks, it was another sobering reminder of how far they still have to go.