The Oklahoma City Thunder travel to Milwaukee to face the Bucks on Wednesday night at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. This game features an OKC team with the league’s best overall record squaring off with a below-.500 Bucks club that is trying to find some consistency. Trade rumors and injuries will both have an impact on these teams in the near future. Before this contest tips off, continue reading to get my Thunder vs Bucks prediction in the NBA.
Our Thunder vs Bucks Pick
| Pick: | |
| Confidence: | 3/5 |
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Oklahoma City Thunder @ Milwaukee Bucks
- Date & Time: Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 9:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Broadcast: ESPN
Key Storylines
Oklahoma City remains the class of the NBA with a 36–8 record, leading the league in scoring at over 121 points per game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having an MVP-level campaign, averaging 31.8 points along with 6.2 assists per night. Chet Holmgren continues to provide an interior presence and the ability to score at all three levels, with roughly 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game.
However, Oklahoma City is dealing with a slew of injuries. Key contributors like Jalen Williams (hamstring), Alex Caruso (groin), and Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) are all out of this contest, with others like Jaylin Williams and Nikola Topic also sidelined. Losing multiple rotation players could impact OKC’s bench scoring and defensive ceiling.
Milwaukee enters at 18–24 with more questions than answers of late. The Bucks recently snapped a three-game losing streak with a 112–110 victory over Atlanta in which Giannis Antetokounmpo led with 21 points and 17 boards, though he is on a minutes restriction. Milwaukee has been inconsistent this year and has struggled to establish sustained success. On top of that, there are rumors that Giannis is going to be traded before the deadline in a couple of weeks, making things even tougher on the Bucks from a mental standpoint.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- This is the first of two regular-season meetings between the Thunder and Bucks this season.
- Oklahoma City enters this game with a 22-22 record against the spread on the season.
- Milwaukee is 19-23 against the spread going into Wednesday night.
- The under is 25-17 in games featuring the Bucks this year.
- The Thunder are 22-22 in the over/under market for the year.
- OKC enters this contest with a 16-5 away record for the season.
- Milwaukee is 9-10 on their home floor this season.
Thunder vs Bucks Model Projection
Final Thoughts
