The NBA regular season is in full swing as the Oklahoma City Thunder travel to face the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. The game is set for Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 9:30 PM and will be broadcast on ESPN. The Thunder enter with a strong record of 36-8, while the Bucks have a record of 18-24.
The Thunder, coached by Mark Daigneault, hold the top spot in the Western Conference. They have won their last game and are on a one-game winning streak. The Bucks, led by Doc Rivers, rank 11th in the Eastern Conference. They also come into this game with a recent win, aiming to improve their season standings.
Oklahoma City Thunder Team Preview
The Oklahoma City Thunder recently played three games on the road. They secured a big win against the Cleveland Cavaliers, 136-104, where Chet Holmgren scored 28 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 30. In their game against the Miami Heat, they lost by two points, 122-120, despite Gilgeous-Alexander’s 39 points.
In their win against the Houston Rockets, the Thunder scored 111 points while holding the Rockets to 91. Holmgren had a strong performance with 18 points and 9 rebounds. The team is first in the league for scoring, averaging 121.4 points per game this season.
The Thunder’s top players include Gilgeous-Alexander, who averages 31.8 points per game, and Holmgren, who averages 18.0 points and 8.5 rebounds. However, they are facing injuries with several key players out, including Isaiah Hartenstein and Jalen Williams. The Thunder will need to rely on their depth in the upcoming game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Milwaukee Bucks Team Preview
The Milwaukee Bucks recently won against the Atlanta Hawks, scoring 112 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the team with 21 points and 17 rebounds. The Bucks shot 49.4% from the field in that game.
In the regular season, the Bucks rank high in field goal percentage at 48.3%. They are second in three-point percentage at 39.4%. However, they struggle in free throw percentage, sitting last at 73.5%.
Giannis Antetokounmpo averages 28.5 points per game this season. Kevin Porter Jr. is also a key player, averaging 16.8 points and 7.4 assists. Ryan Rollins contributes with 16.2 points per game, but he is currently questionable due to an injury.
Betting Prediction
The Thunder are strong on both offense and defense. They score 121.4 points per game, which is the best in the league. They also allow only 108 points per game, making their defense the top in the league.
The Bucks struggle on offense with 112.4 points per game, which ranks 26th. Their defense allows 115.6 points per game, ranking them 15th. This difference in points scored and allowed could cause issues against the Thunder.
The Thunder have a good chance to cover the -9.5 spread. Their strong offense and defense make them a tough team to beat. The Bucks will find it hard to keep up with their scoring and defensive prowess.
- Pick: Thunder -9.5
