Bucks Storm Back From 24 Down to Edge Thunder 128-126 as Rookie Ament Exits With Ankle Sprain

Nothing about the first half at the Paycom Center suggested a comeback. Oklahoma City opened the game with its regular rotation, sending out Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso and rookie Aday Mara, and the group ran Milwaukee off the floor. The Thunder shot 60 percent from the field and 46 percent from three in building an 82-64 halftime lead, stretching the margin as high as 24 points. The second half belonged entirely to Milwaukee's depth. Tyler Herro, Ryan Rollins, Myles Turner, Kel'el Ware and Jaime Jaquez Jr. opened the third quarter by cutting the deficit in half against Oklahoma City's reserves, and the Bucks' second and third units finished the job from there, ripping off a 19-0 run at one point. Rookie Brayden Burries supplied the closing heroics with 16 points off the bench. His powerful dunk tied the game with 64 seconds remaining, and his free throws pushed Milwaukee ahead by four with 7.4 seconds to play. Ousmane Dieng, a former Thunder prospect, sealed the 128-126 win with two more foul shots with four seconds left. Turner led all Bucks scorers with 19 points, while Ware added 18 points and 12 rebounds. Mara starred for the Thunder with 22 points on perfect shooting, and Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 17 in just 18 minutes. The victory came at a cost. Rookie Nate Ament, the No. 13 pick and part of the return in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, sprained his left ankle late in the first half after contact with Wallace and was ruled out at halftime, finishing with three points in nine minutes.