Both Teams Enter NBA Matchup Without Their Star Players
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Milwaukee Bucks faced off Thursday without their respective superstars, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Giannis Antetokounmpo remained sidelined in their final matchup before the NBA All-Star break.
Gilgeous-Alexander sat out his fifth consecutive game due to an abdominal strain, while Antetokounmpo missed his ninth straight contest with a right calf strain. Despite their absences, Oklahoma City maintained heavy favorites status at 12.5 to 13.5 points over the struggling Bucks.
Thunder Momentum and Recent Moves
The Thunder entered the game riding back-to-back victories after dropping their first two contests without Gilgeous-Alexander. Oklahoma City’s momentum carried through Wednesday’s dominant 136-109 road win over the Phoenix Suns, showcasing the team’s depth beyond its star guard.
Recent acquisition Jared McCain continued his impressive transition to Oklahoma City, scoring 12 points Wednesday while shooting 50% through three games with his new squad. However, the Thunder faced uncertainty with Jalen Williams, who suffered a right hamstring injury late in Wednesday’s Phoenix contest after an exceptional performance that included 28 points on 11-of-12 shooting.
Milwaukee’s Offensive Reinforcements
The Bucks have compensated for Antetokounmpo’s absence with aggressive roster additions. Cam Thomas, acquired from the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, exploded for 34 points in his second Milwaukee game Wednesday against the Orlando Magic, demonstrating the natural scoring ability that coach Doc Rivers compared to Jamal Crawford and Lou Williams.
Ousmane Dieng, acquired via trade deadline deal after his previous stint with Oklahoma City, added 17 points and sank a career-high five 3-pointers in his performance against Orlando. These contributions helped Milwaukee secure a 116-108 victory, improving their record to 4-1 in their last five games despite sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 22-30 record.
Contrasting Conference Positions
The matchup highlighted the vast disparity between the two franchises this season. Oklahoma City (42-13) sits atop the Western Conference and maintains the NBA’s best record, while Milwaukee continues their rebuild at 22-30. The Thunder previously defeated the Bucks 122-102 on January 21, with Gilgeous-Alexander posting 40 points on exceptional 16-of-19 shooting.
Both teams looked to conclude their pre-All-Star break schedule with victories in what represented the final of two regular-season meetings between the conference rivals.
