The Milwaukee Bucks rolled into Oklahoma City and walked away with a 110-93 win that was as impressive as it was unexpected. Sure, the Thunder were missing key pieces - no Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, no Jalen Williams - but this wasn’t just a case of catching a good team on an off night. This was Milwaukee playing connected basketball, with seven players scoring in double figures and a second-year forward putting on a show that turned heads.
Let’s start with Ousmane Dieng, who turned in the kind of performance that makes you sit up and wonder if we’re seeing the start of something bigger. The 6-foot-10 wing was everywhere - 19 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and four blocks.
That’s not just filling up a box score; that’s impacting every phase of the game. He was hitting threes, making reads off the pick-and-roll, and protecting the rim like a seasoned vet.
It was the kind of night that makes coaches smile and front offices nod.
But this wasn’t a one-man effort. Milwaukee’s offense was humming, and the ball movement was sharp - the kind of rhythm you don’t always see from a team still finding its identity after a midseason shake-up.
AJ Green came out firing, knocking down five threes and setting the tone early. Kevin Porter Jr. and Cam Thomas brought their usual scoring punch, and Pete Nance added three triples of his own to help put the game out of reach in the fourth.
The Bucks opened strong, pushing out to a 30-25 lead after one. AJ Green and KPJ combined for 12 of the team’s first 16 points, and Milwaukee’s defense held OKC in check just enough to keep a cushion.
The Thunder, without their stars, leaned heavily on Isaiah Joe, who did his best to keep them in it with 17 points, including three early triples. But the Bucks had answers - and then some.
The second quarter saw Milwaukee stretch their lead with a 20-4 run that flipped the game. They exploited mismatches - particularly going at rookie Jared McCain - and forced the Thunder to play in the half court, where OKC struggled to generate clean looks. Even when Alex Caruso hit a trio of threes to briefly tie the game at 40, the Bucks responded with poise and execution, heading into halftime up 67-55.
The third quarter was a grind. Neither team could buy a bucket for stretches, but Milwaukee maintained control thanks to timely buckets from KPJ and Cam Thomas.
Then came the Dieng takeover. In the span of a few minutes, he buried a catch-and-shoot three without a dip, knocked down a mid-range jumper off the bounce, and drilled another triple from the corner.
That flurry gave the Bucks a 16-point cushion heading into the fourth, and they never looked back.
Milwaukee came out of the break with a purpose, delivering the knockout punch in just under 90 seconds. AJ Green hit his fifth three, Pete Nance added another, and suddenly the lead ballooned to 22.
The Thunder tried to chip away, but every time they made a push, the Bucks had a response - and it came from different guys each time. That’s the kind of depth and chemistry that wins games in February... and maybe beyond.
One more note that deserves more than just a passing mention: Nikola Topic made his NBA debut tonight, marking a personal milestone after undergoing treatment for testicular cancer. A big moment for the young guard and a reminder that some wins transcend the scoreboard.
This wasn’t just a good win for Milwaukee - it was a glimpse of what this team can be when the pieces click. Balanced scoring, purposeful ball movement, and a young core stepping up when it matters. Don’t look now, but the Bucks might be building something worth watching.