The Milwaukee Bucks may have edged out a nail-biter against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, but the road ahead doesn’t get any easier. Sitting at 18-24, they’re still on the outside looking in when it comes to the Eastern Conference play-in picture. And tonight, they face a tall order - literally and figuratively - when they host the 36-8 Oklahoma City Thunder, the undisputed top seed in the West.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: the Thunder aren’t just leading the Western Conference - they’re dominating it. With a six-game cushion over the second-place Spurs, Oklahoma City is playing like a team with championship aspirations and the confidence to back it up.
And while they’re dealing with their own share of injuries, they’ve still got the reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, ready to go. That alone makes them a serious threat.
Milwaukee’s Injury Woes Stack Up
As if facing the league’s hottest team wasn’t enough of a challenge, the Bucks will be doing it short-handed. The team confirmed just moments ago that both Kevin Porter Jr. and Myles Turner - who were listed as questionable earlier in the day - will be out for tonight’s game.
That’s a big blow.
Porter has been a steady force this season, averaging 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game. His ability to create off the dribble and facilitate the offense has been crucial for Milwaukee, especially during stretches where scoring has dried up. Without him, the Bucks lose a key playmaker and one of their most versatile offensive weapons.
Turner, meanwhile, brings a different kind of value. His 12.2 points, 5.3 boards, and 1.5 blocks per game don’t jump off the page, but his presence in the paint - both as a rim protector and a floor spacer - has been vital. His absence leaves Milwaukee thinner in the frontcourt, particularly against a Thunder team that loves to attack the lane and stretch defenses with pace and shooting.
Also ruled out are Taurean Prince, who remains sidelined following neck surgery, and Alex Antetokounmpo, who continues to be unavailable while on a G-League two-way assignment.
Thunder Dealing with Injuries Too - But Still Dangerous
Oklahoma City isn’t walking in fully healthy either. Their injury report is a long one, featuring several rotation players:
- Alex Caruso (adductor strain): Out
- Isaiah Hartenstein (soleus strain): Out
- Thomas Sober (ACL surgery): Out
- Nikola Topic (surgery recovery): Out
- Aaron Wiggins (groin soreness): Out
- Jalen Williams (hamstring strain): Out
- Jaylin Williams (glute contusion): Out
That’s a significant chunk of depth missing for the Thunder, especially with guys like Jalen Williams and Caruso, who bring two-way impact. But the key name not on that list? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The reigning MVP is healthy, active, and still playing at an elite level. As long as he’s on the floor, Oklahoma City has a shot - and more often than not this season, they’ve taken full advantage of it.
What It Means for the Bucks
For Milwaukee, this is a gut-check game. With two starters out and the season slipping further from play-in contention, they’ll need a collective effort to hang with a Thunder team that can beat you in transition, in the half-court, and on the defensive end.
Expect more responsibility to fall on the shoulders of the remaining core - especially in the backcourt. The Bucks will need to find ways to generate offense without Porter initiating, and they'll have to get creative to protect the rim without Turner anchoring the paint.
It’s a tall task, no doubt. But in the NBA, adversity has a way of revealing what a team is really made of. We’ll find out tonight if the Bucks can rise to the occasion - or if the Thunder will continue their march through the league with another statement win.