Oklahoma City built a 22-point lead in Milwaukee's preseason finale before the Bucks answered with a 64-44 second half to win 128-126. Myles Turner anchored the comeback at plus-16, though Milwaukee closed the game with him on the bench.
First quarter
Oklahoma City scored 44 in the first quarter to Milwaukee's 35, building off Aday Mara's perfect night inside. The Bucks answered with an early 8-0 run of their own, taking a brief 8-5 edge, but Oklahoma City's bench, led by Bennett Stirtz, kept finding daylight. Milwaukee called timeout at 8:43 with the score 13-11 and again at 5:44 trailing 20-26 after a 7-0 Thunder run.
Second quarter
Oklahoma City's lead swelled past double digits on a 12-0 run that stretched the score from 43-51 to 46-63, and the Thunder's cushion eventually reached 22, the widest of the night. Milwaukee called timeout down 46-68. The Thunder closed the half 38-29, and the Bucks trailed by double digits at the break.
Second half
Milwaukee outscored Oklahoma City 64-44 over the final two quarters, 33 in the third and 31 in the fourth, to turn the game around. Bench scoring did much of the work: Burries scored 16 points off the bench and Jakucionis added 10, while Milwaukee's starters finished with 75 points against a 51-point bench total. Four lead changes followed, with no ties, before the Bucks pulled ahead for good.
Closing minutes
Milwaukee closed the game with Jaquez, Jericho Sims, Jakucionis, Ousmane Dieng and Tyler Herro on the floor, not the lineup that produced the box score's best plus-minus marks. Myles Turner finished plus-16 in 22 minutes, Cormac Ryan plus-9 in 11, and Herro plus-8 in 23. Sims finished minus-21 in 18 minutes, Kel'el Ware minus-9 in 25, and Jaquez minus-6 in 22, despite Ware's line of 18 points, 12 boards.
Grades
Turner grades out best: 19 points on 5-of-8 shooting with two blocks and a plus-16 in 22 minutes. Burries' 16 points and two steals in 21 minutes off the bench back up the trust Taylor Jenkins showed him late. Nate Ament was added to the injury report with a left ankle injury, with Milwaukee projecting his return for Oct. 11.
Did the Bucks win in Oklahoma City?
Yes, Milwaukee won 128-126 in preseason play on Oct. 7, overcoming a 22-point deficit.
Who led Milwaukee in the win over the Thunder?
Myles Turner led with 19 points and a plus-16, while Kel'el Ware finished with 18 points and 12 boards and Brayden Burries scored 16 off the bench.
