Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dominated in limited minutes as the Oklahoma City Thunder (39-9) cruised past the injury-riddled Milwaukee Bucks (26-22) with a 125-96 victory on Monday night.
Milwaukee played without Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Brook Lopez, and Khris Middleton, significantly weakening their lineup. The absence of their top players turned what could have been a competitive matchup into a lopsided affair.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the league’s leading scorer, wasted no time asserting his presence. He poured in 21 points on 9-for-11 shooting in the first quarter as the Thunder built a 39-22 lead. By halftime, he had 30 points, helping Oklahoma City extend its advantage to 78-44.
The All-Star guard exited the game for good in the third quarter, finishing with 34 points in just 22 minutes. His efficiency was remarkable, shooting 15-for-19 from the field and 2-for-3 from beyond the arc.
Ousmane Dieng added 21 points and seven rebounds off the bench, while Isaiah Joe contributed 18 points, knocking down five three-pointers. The Thunder played without Jalen Williams, who was sidelined with a sprained right wrist.
Milwaukee’s offense struggled without its stars, shooting just 37.6% from the field. Ryan Rollins led the Bucks with 16 points, while AJ Johnson scored 13 off the bench. The loss marked Milwaukee’s fourth straight defeat, a stretch in which they have failed to find consistency.
Antetokounmpo missed the game due to right patella tendinopathy, while Lillard sat out with a sore left groin. Lopez was sidelined with back soreness, and Middleton remains on a limited workload after undergoing offseason surgeries on both ankles.
Despite the Bucks’ shorthanded lineup, Oklahoma City did not ease up. The Thunder shot 64.4% through the first three quarters and forced Milwaukee into tough shots throughout the contest. They built a 42-point lead in the second half before resting their starters.
Kenrich Williams, Luguentz Dort, and Isaiah Hartenstein anchored the Thunder’s starting lineup, providing defensive stability and facilitating Oklahoma City’s offensive rhythm. The team dominated the glass, outrebounding the Bucks 55-37.
Milwaukee’s struggles were evident early, as they fell behind by 17 points after the first quarter and never mounted a serious comeback.
