Thunder vs Bucks: Pregame Primer
vs.
Bucks (11-11, 5-7 road) vs. Thunder (7-13, 4-5 home)
TV: FS Oklahoma
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 1300 AM The Buzz Tulsa)
Time: 7:00 CT
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 100.7 (27th), Bucks – 103.8 (22nd)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 102.5 (7th), Bucks – 105.0 (10th)
Big blue notched another win (won 3 of last 4) against Detroit Sunday night, and took another step up the standings ladder — now just four games back of Phoenix (12-10) for eight place in the West.
The Thunder played one of its best games on the glass Sunday against Detroit with 16 offensive rebounds, and 13 of them coming in the second half. Serge Ibaka’s 13 points and 13 rebounds was a great return to form on both ends — hitting shots, rotating well, and being a force on the offensive glass.
Jeremy Lamb continues to be great off the bench. He’s spacing the floor, hitting open shots, he’s a threat off the dribble and off of pin-downs and curls, and has shown his length can be a real asset on the defensive end. Since Sunday I’ve been trying think of one reason Roberson should still be starting over Lamb, and well… I ain’t got nothin’ boss.
The Matchup
The Milwaukee Bucks (11-11) come to town off of a blowout loss to the Dallas Mavericks Sunday night 125-102, and the Thunder look to continue the trend. The Bucks beat the Thunder at home on Nov. 11 85-78 behind a suffocating defensive effort and a disjointed Thunder offensive attack.
The Bucks scored 50 of its 85 points in the paint, and forced the Thunder into 16 turnovers. It was a poor effort on both ends, with most every shot the Thunder took after its solid first quarter coming from Reggie Jackson out on Reggie Jackson Island. Tonight the Thunder will look differently to Jason Kidd and his team with Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant in the lineup.
Milwaukee had three players in double-figures: O.J. Mayo (19), Brandon Knight (16), Giannis Antetokounmpo (14). Speaking of the latter, it will be really interesting to watch the Greek-Freak use his length and speed against Kevin Durant. Durant is coming off a great night in Detroit — 28-4-4 on 10-19 shooting in just 29 minutes. The minutes restriction remains tonight, but with a full squad Durant may not need more than 30 minutes to put away this Bucks team.
Another positive to this team being healthy is Anthony Morrow is now being used as a beneficiary instead of a creator. He’s getting to fall into the role he’s so good at — out on the wing, spacing the floor, ready to rock and fire. He’s the best pure shooter this team has had since… well, since Ray Allen when they wore green and yellow tanks. It’s nice to see him benefit from Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant’s all-worldness. However, it’s not nice that he was sitting at home as a member of the Pelicans during the Western Conference Finals in May.
Sunday’s COTN: “Downtown for Robes is just outside of the paint” – @Durants Shimmy
The operation was a success, but the patient died.
Tip at 7:00 CT. Go THREE-game win streak.
