Oklahoma City Thunder Fall 128-126 to Bucks After Blowing 24-Point Lead
Oklahoma City Thunder Blow 24-Point Lead in 128-126 Preseason Loss to Milwaukee Bucks
The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered their second consecutive preseason defeat Wednesday night, October 7, falling 128-126 to the Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center despite building a commanding 24-point lead. The loss dropped Oklahoma City to 0-2 in preseason play, although several individual performances offered encouraging signs ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season.
The Thunder dominated the opening half, scoring 44 points in the first quarter and carrying an 82-64 advantage into halftime. Milwaukee rallied after Oklahoma City rested most of its regular rotation, turning what appeared to be a comfortable Thunder victory into a dramatic finish.
Oklahoma City Thunder Build 24-Point Lead Before Bucks Rally
Oklahoma City's offense operated efficiently early, using quick ball movement, accurate outside shooting and aggressive drives to overwhelm Milwaukee. The Thunder finished with 34 assists on 46 made field goals, shooting 50% overall and connecting on 17 three-pointers.
Milwaukee responded with a dominant second-half stretch, including 19 consecutive points, while holding Oklahoma City to just 20 points in the third quarter. The Bucks eventually seized control late, with Brayden Burries contributing critical free throws and former Thunder player Ousmane Dieng helping secure the victory.
Aday Mara Delivers Perfect Shooting Performance
Rookie center Aday Mara emerged as Oklahoma City's biggest standout, scoring 22 points on 10-for-10 shooting, adding six rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot. The 7-foot-3 center repeatedly connected with Thunder ball handlers on alley-oop finishes, demonstrating his potential as an interior scoring threat.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 17 points and five assists, while Jalen Williams added 16 points and six assists. Rookie guard Bennett Stirtz supplied 20 points and five rebounds, providing additional offensive production.
Thunder Preseason Results Offer Encouragement Despite Loss
For Milwaukee, Myles Turner scored 19 points, while Kel'el Ware recorded 18 points and 12 rebounds. Burries added 15 points as the Bucks completed their comeback.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault praised his team's early execution, noting the players showed strong energy and offensive rhythm despite lineup changes.
Fans can review the NBA's official game box score, the Oklahoma City Thunder's preseason schedule and OKC Thunder Wire's game analysis for additional statistics, upcoming matchups and player evaluations.
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