Bucks survive late push to beat Thunder 128-126 in preseason

Milwaukee’s first preseason win of the post-Giannis era came the hard way on the road, with Myles Turner providing early punch and Brayden Burries closing out the final stretch against Oklahoma City.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

In Milwaukee’s second preseason game, the Bucks posted a 128-126 road victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, their first win of the post-Giannis era. The margin was narrow, the late moments were decisive, and the game served as another reminder that preseason results still reveal who can run a closing possession when defensive intensity rises.

Myles Turner set the tone for Milwaukee’s offense, scoring a team-high 19 points in just 22 minutes. Turner’s production mattered in a matchup that otherwise featured scoring from multiple directions, and it gave the Bucks a reliable option before the late-game narrative shifted toward the finish.

The Thunder remained active through the end of the contest, led by Aday Mara’s 22 points. Oklahoma City’s pace kept the Bucks from settling into cruise control, and the two teams traded momentum late in the fourth in a way that turned the final sequence into a high-pressure test.

While Turner built the base, Brayden Burries emerged as the late-game closer. According to the game recap, Burries starred in the closing stretch, sealing the result for Milwaukee after a game that reached a tight, end-of-regulation type of finish.

Milwaukee also managed its rotation in a way typical of the preseason. AJ Green, Kyle Kuzma, Caris LeVert, Kevin Porter Jr., and Gary Trent Jr. were inactive for the Bucks in this game, which meant younger contributors and remaining rotation players had more of the workload. For Oklahoma City, the same general preseason logic applied, with Milwaukee and Oklahoma City both using the game to evaluate roles rather than optimize for a final score.

One theme to watch as the preseason continues is how Milwaukee closes. In a 128-126 outcome decided in the final stretch, the difference was not just scoring, it was execution late, including who gets the ball and who can convert when the game tightens. Burries’ late impact, paired with Turner’s earlier output, offers a blueprint the Bucks will likely want to repeat.

For the Thunder, the loss does not erase the offensive spirit of the night, with Mara topping the team at 22. The takeaway for Oklahoma City is that the offense can keep producing, but late stop-and-score sequences decide games, especially in preseason matchups where coaches probe decision-making under pressure.

Why It Matters

The Bucks’ ability to execute in the closing minutes provides an early report for how they may manage late possessions once games tighten.
Turner’s efficient scoring burst offers a potential offensive anchor option during lineup rotations in the preseason evaluation window.
Oklahoma City’s scoring presence, led by Mara, shows its offense can function late, but the result underscores the importance of stops and decision-making at the end.
Because multiple Bucks players were inactive, the game adds context about which parts of the roster are currently auditioning for consistent roles.

Sources

Key Facts

Milwaukee defeated Oklahoma City 128-126 in the Bucks’ second preseason game.
The win was described as Milwaukee’s first of the post-Giannis era.
Myles Turner scored a team-high 19 points in 22 minutes for the Bucks.
Aday Mara led Oklahoma City with 22 points.
Brayden Burries was highlighted for a clutch late-game performance that closed out the win.
AJ Green, Kyle Kuzma, Caris LeVert, Kevin Porter Jr., and Gary Trent Jr. were inactive for Milwaukee.