NBA
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Milwaukee Bucks Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction
Date: Sunday 16th March 2025 Start time: 8 pm local time (1 am BST) Venue: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Last meeting: February 3, 2025, Oklahoma City Thunder 125-96 Milwaukee Bucks This hotly anticipated clash sees the Oklahoma City Thunder travel to play the Milwaukee Bucks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo//Getty Images
This hotly anticipated clash sees the Oklahoma City Thunder travel to play the Milwaukee Bucks. Both organizations have already established themselves as playoff-contending teams. The Thunder are the first seed in the West and the Bucks are the fourth seed in the East. This matchup will give a clear picture on whether either team has what it takes to face top level opposition in the rival Conference. Who will prevail?
SportsBoom's preview provides a comprehensive analysis, keeping you informed with all the essential details about both teams. It covers their head-to-head records and includes expert predictions and betting advice for the upcoming match.
Plus, for those looking to get involved, we highlight the best online sports betting options to maximize your experience.
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Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
Milwaukee Bucks: 4/7 (1.57) – 63.6%
Oklahoma City Thunder: 7/4 (2.75) – 36.4%
Forecast odds – Betting available on 1Win closer to event
Head-to-Head Record
This fixture first started in 1968, but there have only been 152 regular season games throughout history. Incredibly, this matchup is very close in the head-to-head charts, with the Milwaukee Bucks having the edge with 77 wins.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have only two less wins with 75, but this could be reduced further to one game if they complete the win this time round. The Thunder have won two in a row, but before that, the Bucks completed a six-game winning streak that lasted for three years.
Last Five Matches
| Season | Date | Result |
| 2024/25 Season | February 3, 2025 | Oklahoma City Thunder 125-96 Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2023/24 Season | April 12, 2024 | Oklahoma City Thunder 125-107 Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2023/24 Season | March 24, 2024 | Milwaukee Bucks 118-93 Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 2022/23 Season | November 9, 2022 | Milwaukee Bucks 136-132 Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 2022/23 Season | November 5, 2022 | Milwaukee Bucks 108-94 Oklahoma City Thunder |
How is the season so far for both teams?
Milwaukee Bucks
- Record: 36-27
- Home Form: 21-11
- Road Form: 14-16
The Milwaukee Bucks are under threat as the fourth seed in the East due to losing two games in a row, consequently allowing the teams behind to catch up. The Bucks have a 7-3 record from their last ten games, though, impressive form for the franchise, but there is little doubt they will relinquish a playoff place. The Bucks have the joint third best home record, but their away form is a cause for concern.
30-year-old power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is once again the franchise’s standout player, averaging 30+ points per game for the season for the third consecutive season. He is the second-best shooter in the league, in addition to being the sixth leading rebounder, as he is reminding the league of his impressive quality. The Greek-Nigerian star is posting his best numbers in rebounds since the 2019/20 season. In addition, he is averaging 5.8 assists per game, matching his averages from previous seasons.
With Antetokounmpo no doubt ending the season as the lead scorer and rebounder once again, Damian Lillard will likely lead the roster in assists and steals per game. At the age of 34, he is averaging 25.5 points, but also 7.1 assists and 1.2 steals, highlighting his impressive efficiency in offensive scenarios. Lillard is a vital part within the roster, and it shows, providing help to his attacking counterpart.
Oklahoma City Thunder
- Record: 53-11
- Home Form: 28-4
- Road Form: 24-7
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the standout performers in the West this season, with the organization placed as the distant first seed and are 12 games ahead of their nearest challengers. Incredibly, they have managed to keep defeats both home and away to single digits and are currently enjoying a seven-game winning run. The Thunder have lost only four games at home, an impressive feat as they look set to end the regular season as the number one seed.
Most Valuable Player (MVP) candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is propping up the best numbers of his career concerning points per game. The 26-year-old has upped his points per game total to 32.9, maintaining his first place in the league. He also is averaging 5.1 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game, exceeding his career averages as he aims to win this individual award for the first time.
Jalen Williams is ever improving for the franchise in only his third season in the NBA and for the franchise. The 23-year-old has played 60 games this season and is averaging 21.4 points per game, averaging 5.3 assists and 5.5 rebounds too. The only way is up as he continues to shine in the NBA. He already earned his first All-Star appearance, further backing the idea that he has a bright future in the league.
Value Bets
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Over 25 Points and Over 10 Rebounds: In the last ten games against the Thunder, Giannis Antetokounmpo has produced astonishing figures. He has played a crucial role in the Bucks winning six games in a row, and we predict him to maintain the standard. He has averages of 28.6 points and 15.9 rebounds per game, therefore, we predict a double-double will occur at the very least.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Over 25 Points: Based on his impressive scoring form this season, it can be assumed he will have another impressive performance in offense. He has an average of 25.8 points from his last five games, therefore, SportsBoom predicts we will see him match these statistics at the very least.
Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder to win
This contest is very hard to predict due to the standout qualities on display on both rosters, but we select the Oklahoma City Thunder to prevail. The Thunder are in an impressive vein of form at the time of writing, winning seven in a row. While the Bucks have had a stronger recent record, the Thunder look tough to beat this season.
Henry Cheal is a versatile freelance sports journalist with extensive experience in the industry. Henry has previously worked at the 2024 World Snooker Championship and earned a Multimedia Sports Journalism degree from UCFB in 2023.
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