Thunder Stumble into All-Star Break, Shorthanded and Out of Sync in Loss to Bucks
OKLAHOMA CITY - With two of their top offensive weapons sidelined, the Oklahoma City Thunder ran into a buzzsaw Thursday night - and it didn’t even include Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Milwaukee Bucks, playing without their two-time MVP, rolled into Paycom Center and handed the Thunder a 110-93 loss that felt even more lopsided than the final score. Oklahoma City, missing All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for a fifth straight game and versatile wing Jalen Williams, struggled to find any rhythm offensively. And Milwaukee took full advantage.
“We weren’t able to really get any offensive rhythm tonight for whatever reason,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said postgame. “I thought there were a lot of possessions where we weren’t very organized, which sets you back at the beginning of possessions.”
That lack of cohesion showed up early and often. The Thunder shot just 37.3% from the field - well below their season average - and looked disjointed against a Bucks defense that was locked in from the jump. Milwaukee’s lead ballooned to as many as 24 points, and they never looked back.
Mark Daigneault on Nikola Topić’s NBA debut: “He’s done an incredible job in the face of a lot of different obstacles and adversities.
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) February 12, 2026
For a young person, he’s shown tremendous resilience, and optimism… I’m incredibly happy for him to be able to dress tonight” pic.twitter.com/qvog1tBYwa
While the Thunder were grinding through half-court sets, the Bucks were letting it fly. They knocked down 17 threes as part of a balanced scoring effort that saw seven players hit double figures.
The top scorer? A familiar face - a former Thunder forward acquired at the trade deadline - who dropped 19 points in his return to OKC.
AJ Green added some serious firepower off the bench, drilling six threes on his way to 17 points. Bobby Portis provided his usual energy and muscle inside, notching a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double. Kyle Kuzma chipped in 14 points in a supporting role as Milwaukee’s offense hummed without its superstar.
For the Thunder, the bright spot came in the form of rookie big man Chet Holmgren. Fresh off being named an All-Star for the first time, Holmgren showed why he's earned that nod. He finished with 16 points, 13 boards, four assists, and two blocks - a stat-stuffing performance that highlighted his all-around impact, even on a night when the team as a whole struggled.
And the Thunder were certainly battling more than just Milwaukee. Already without Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams, they were also missing starting center Isaiah Hartenstein, his backup Branden Carlson, and reserve guard Ajay Mitchell. That’s a lot of rotation minutes unavailable - and it showed.
But amidst the frustration of the loss came a moment of inspiration.
Nikola Topić, the Thunder’s 2024 first-round pick, suited up for the first time in his NBA career. His path to this moment has been anything but ordinary.
After tearing his ACL and missing his rookie season, Topić was diagnosed with testicular cancer following the team’s first preseason game in October. The fact that he was even in uniform Thursday night was a testament to his resilience.
“He’s done an incredible job in the face of a lot of different obstacles and adversities,” Daigneault said. “For a young person, he’s shown tremendous resilience and optimism, professionalism, consistency, steadiness - he’s an impressive young guy.”
Topić didn’t log major minutes, but his presence was meaningful. It’s not every day you see a player come back from both a major knee injury and cancer treatment before ever playing a regular-season game. His debut was a reminder that sometimes, the biggest victories don’t show up on the scoreboard.
Despite the loss, the Thunder head into the All-Star break with the NBA’s best record at 42-14. That’s a remarkable feat for such a young squad, especially considering the adversity they’ve faced in recent weeks. And with Gilgeous-Alexander expected back post-break, OKC has plenty to look forward to as the playoff push begins.
But Thursday night was a reminder: even the league’s best teams can get punched in the mouth when they’re short-handed - and when a hungry opponent comes ready to play.