Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the Bucks into matchup against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander & the Thunder.
Tonight’s cross-conference clash features the best team in the Western Conference battling an Eastern Conference juggernaut. The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Milwaukee Bucks (8 ET) in a rematch of this season’s Emirates NBA Cup Championship in Las Vegas.
Here are five things to know ahead of tonight’s matchup:
1. Milwaukee looks to get back on track: The Bucks (26-21) enter tonight’s matchup in fifth place in the East. They’ve dropped their last three games to the Trail Blazers, Spurs and Grizzlie, losing by double-digits in each of those matchups. The biggest deficit came against the Spurs, where a healthy Bucks squad lost 144-118 in San Antonio.
2. SGA has scored 50+ twice in his last five games: The priority for Milwaukee tonight will be slowing down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He torched the Utah Jazz for a career-best 54 points and scored 52 exactly one week later against the Warriors. The league’s leading scorer is proving he’s capable of these scoring outbursts on any given night.
3. OKC is 16-1 versus the Eastern Conference: The Thunder have been on a tear all season long, sitting at 38-9 on the year. Of their nine losses, only one has come against the East,falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers in December. While Milwaukee does have bragging rights after their victory against the Thunder in the NBA Cup Final, that game does not count towards either team’s regular-season record.
4. Milwaukee’s precise shooting from deep: The Bucks take and make three-pointers at a very high clip. Currently, they have the second-highest three-point shooting percentage in the NBA at 38.7%. The team makes 14.2 per game as well, which is the sixth-highest mark in the league.
5. Wiggins following up a career performance: Aaron Wiggins exploded for 41 points and 14 rebounds (both career highs) against the Kings in OKC’s last matchup on Saturday. He had extra opportunities due to the absence of Jalen Williams. It may not be a repeat tonight, but the touches will be available again with Williams set to miss tonight’s game as well.
