The Oklahoma City Thunder (36-8) visit the Milwaukee Bucks (18-24) in a cross-conference matchup where the defending champions look to extend their dominance against a struggling Eastern Conference team. The Thunder are riding a hot streak, winners of their last five games with elite defense and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge, while the Bucks have dropped six of their last 10 amid injuries and inconsistent play. Despite Milwaukee’s home advantage, Oklahoma City’s depth and efficiency could lead to a comfortable road win unless Giannis Antetokounmpo delivers a superstar performance.
Venue Location
Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Tipoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. CT).
The Thunder lead the West with the league’s best record, while the Bucks are fighting to climb out of the East’s lower tier.
Recent Team Forms
Oklahoma City Thunder: The Thunder are scorching hot, going 9-1 in their last 10 with a focus on stifling defense (holding opponents to under 105 points in six of those). They’ve averaged 121.4 PPG while leading the league in steals and blocks.
Key recent results:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Score |
| Jan 19, 2026 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W | 136-104 |
| Jan 17, 2026 | @ Miami Heat | L | 120-122 |
| Jan 15, 2026 | vs. Houston Rockets | W | 118-105 |
| Jan 13, 2026 | vs. Utah Jazz | W | 124-98 |
| Jan 10, 2026 | @ Denver Nuggets | W | 112-108 |
| Jan 8, 2026 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W | 130-95 |
| Jan 6, 2026 | @ LA Clippers | W | 115-110 |
Oklahoma City’s form highlights their championship pedigree, with balanced scoring and top-ranked efficiency.
Milwaukee Bucks: The Bucks are inconsistent, going 4-6 in their last 10 with defensive struggles (allowing 115+ points in five losses). They’ve relied on Giannis but lack depth.
Recent results:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Score |
| Jan 19, 2026 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W | 112-110 |
| Jan 17, 2026 | @ Orlando Magic | L | 105-118 |
| Jan 15, 2026 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L | 102-115 |
| Jan 13, 2026 | @ Boston Celtics | L | 98-120 |
| Jan 10, 2026 | vs. New York Knicks | W | 110-105 |
| Jan 8, 2026 | @ Chicago Bulls | W | 108-102 |
| Jan 6, 2026 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L | 100-112 |
Milwaukee’s form shows flashes of potential but frequent lapses, especially against stronger teams.
Oklahoma City Thunder:
Alex Caruso: Out (Groin)
Isaiah Hartenstein: Out (Calf)
Jalen Williams: Out (Hamstring – re-evaluated in two weeks)
Jaylin Williams: Questionable (Glute Contusion)
Nikola Topic: Out (Groin)
The Thunder are missing key rotation players, putting more pressure on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren.
Milwaukee Bucks:
Taurean Prince: Out (Neck Surgery)
Alex Antetokounmpo: Out (G League – Two-Way)
Kevin Porter Jr.: Questionable (Oblique Strain)
Myles Turner: Questionable (Ankle Sprain)
The Bucks’ frontcourt could be thinned if Turner sits, relying heavily on Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Key
Player Matchups
This game features high-stakes battles, with Oklahoma City’s versatile lineup testing Milwaukee’s stars amid injuries:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) vs. Ryan Rollins (MIL): SGA (31.8 PPG, 6.2 APG, 1.3 SPG) is a scoring machine with elite efficiency (54.8 FG%). Rollins (16.2 PPG, 5.5 APG) will struggle to contain his drives and playmaking.
Chet Holmgren (OKC) vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL): Holmgren (18 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2 BPG) brings rim protection against Giannis’ athleticism (28.5 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 5.5 APG). This could be a defensive showcase in the paint.
Ajay Mitchell (OKC) vs. Kevin Porter Jr. (MIL, if active): Mitchell (14 PPG, 1.4 SPG) provides secondary creation; Porter (16.8 PPG, 7.4 APG) adds scoring punch but may be limited by injury.
Cason Wallace (OKC) vs. Kyle Kuzma (MIL): Wallace’s defense (2 SPG) could disrupt Kuzma’s perimeter game.
The Thunder’s depth edges out Milwaukee, but Giannis could exploit mismatches if healthy Bucks step up.
Series History
The all-time series is nearly even, with the Bucks leading 77-76 in 153 regular-season games. Recently, the Thunder have dominated, winning the last three meetings, including a 121-105 victory on March 16, 2025, and a 125-96 blowout on February 3, 2025. Over the last 10 head-to-heads, Oklahoma City is 7-3, with six games going over 220 total points.
Betting Trends
Spread: Oklahoma City is 22-22 ATS overall but 10-5 ATS as road favorites; Bucks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5.
Over/Under: Over has hit in 23 of Thunder’s 42 games; Under in 7 of Bucks’ last 10 home games.
Other Trends: Thunder are 6-1 SU in last 7 road games; Bucks are 5-5 ATS in last 10 overall.
Game Odds
Oklahoma City Thunder – 9.5
Milwaukee Bucks 226.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, January 20, 2026
