OKC Thunder Strikes Daily

January 23, 2026 • Sports

Hosted by Big Dill

About This Episode

Generated sports podcast with host Big Dill based on prompt: I want to hear daily OKC Thunder news. If they played a game then give me the highlights.

Transcript

Welcome to another episode of Big Dill Sports! I'm Dillon, your host, bringing you the latest and greatest from the world of sports. Today, we're diving into the electrifying action from the NBA, focusing on a team that's been on fire lately—the Oklahoma City Thunder. Buckle up, because the Thunder are making waves, and there's a lot to unpack.

Last night, OKC extended their winning streak with a stunning victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, cruising to a 122-102 win at Fiserv Forum. This game closed out their road slate for January, but the excitement is far from over. The Thunder started strong, scoring the first seven points and building a 38-18 lead by the end of the first quarter. They maintained their dominance throughout the game, outpacing Milwaukee in each subsequent quarter to finish with a 20-point victory. Their record now stands proudly at 38-8.

The star of the night, and undoubtedly today's 'big dill,' was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He put on a clinic with 40 points and an incredible shooting percentage of 84.2%. Adding 11 assists and seven rebounds, Shai's performance was nothing short of legendary. According to some stats wizards out there, it's only the second time since the 1980-81 season that a player has achieved such a feat. Hats off to Shai for leading his team with flair and precision.

The game started with OKC seizing control early, taking advantage of Milwaukee’s eight turnovers to carve out a commanding lead. Even when the Bucks showed some fight in the second quarter, thanks to Giannis Antetokounmpo's efforts, they couldn't close the gap. By the third quarter, Shai and his crew expanded their lead to 27 points. With the result in hand, Coach Doc Rivers rested his starters in the fourth, allowing the Thunder to cruise to the finish line.

Now, let's talk about the supporting cast. Third-year guard Cason Wallace added a defensive spark, contributing with steals and blocks to disrupt the Bucks' rhythm. AJay Mitchell also showcased his scoring potential with 18 first-half points before leaving due to a hip bruise. On the bench, Kenrich Williams impressed with 18 points, bolstering OKC's field goal percentage to a fantastic 54.4%. Luguentz Dort continued to excel both offensively and defensively, while Chet Holmgren made his presence felt with timely blocks.

On the other side, Giannis led the Bucks with 19 points and 14 rebounds, trying his best to spark his team, but OKC's balanced attack proved too much for them.

Despite missing several key players due to injuries, Oklahoma City demonstrated their depth and resilience. Players like Jalen Williams, Alex Caruso, and Isaiah Hartenstein were absent, yet the Thunder hardly missed a beat. Coach Mark Daigneault praised his squad’s ‘next-man-up’ mentality, a mindset that's been critical to their success.

Looking ahead, OKC is set to face the Indiana Pacers at home, where they'll aim for their 20th home win. With crucial matchups against teams like the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns on the horizon, the Thunder are keen to keep their momentum going before the All-Star break.

As the Thunder continue their impressive run, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is leading the MVP race, and Coach Daigneault's crew looks poised to sustain their dominance in the Western Conference.

Thanks for tuning in to Big Dill Sports! Don't forget to catch the Thunder in action as they keep lighting up the court. Until next time, keep it real and keep it sporty. Catch you later!

## Game Recap
The Oklahoma City Thunder extended their winning streak to seven triumphs in eight games by routing the Milwaukee Bucks 122–102 at Fiserv Forum on Wednesday night, in a contest that officially closed out the Jan. 21 road slate but was published early on Jan. 22, 2026. The Thunder jumped to an early lead, scoring the game’s first seven points and building a commanding 38–18 advantage by the end of the first quarter. They never looked back, outpacing Milwaukee in each quarter (31–33 in Q2, 30–26 in Q3, 23–25 in Q4) to seal a 20-point victory and improve to 38–8 on the season ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/id/401810480?utm_source=openai)).

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander spearheaded the offensive onslaught, erupting for 40 points on an ultra-efficient 16-of-19 shooting (84.2 FG%) along with 11 assists, seven rebounds and one steal over 33 minutes. According to Sportradar research cited by ESPN, his performance marked only the second instance since the 1980–81 season of a player recording at least 40 points and 10 assists while shooting 80 percent or better—a feat coincidentally mirrored just one day earlier by Immanuel Quickley in Toronto ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/id/401810480?utm_source=openai)).

### Key Quarter Summaries
- First Quarter: OKC 38, MIL 18 – Thunder capitalized on eight Bucks turnovers to build a 20-point cushion.
- Second Quarter: OKC 31, MIL 33 – Milwaukee showed fight behind Giannis Antetokounmpo’s mid-quarter run but couldn’t erase the deficit.
- Third Quarter: OKC 30, MIL 26 – Shai and company maintained control, expanding the lead to as many as 27 points.
- Fourth Quarter: OKC 23, MIL 25 – Doc Rivers opted to rest his starters in garbage time, and Oklahoma City coasted to victory. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/id/401810480?utm_source=openai)).

## Player Highlights
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (40 pts, 11 ast, 7 reb) continued his MVP-caliber campaign, delivering his fourth 40-point game of the season while shooting at least 80 percent from the floor ([cbssports.com](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/OKC/oklahoma-city-thunder/?utm_source=openai)). Third-year guard Cason Wallace provided a spark defensively, finishing with nine points (3-of-9 FG, 2-of-6 3PT, 1-of-2 FT), two rebounds, two assists, one block and four steals across 31 minutes—his fourth multi-steal outing in eight games since Christmas ([cbssports.com](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/OKC/oklahoma-city-thunder/?utm_source=openai)). Ajay Mitchell erupted for 18 first-half points (8-of-12 FG, 2-of-2 3PT), before exiting in the third quarter with a right hip bruise; despite the early exit, Mitchell showcased his scoring potential off the bench ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/id/401810480?utm_source=openai)).

Kenrich Williams also tallied 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting, pushing the bench scoring total and helping OKC shoot a collective 54.4 percent from the field on the night ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/id/401810480?utm_source=openai)). Luguentz Dort continued his two-way excellence, notching timely defensive sequences that fueled transition opportunities, including a 26-foot pull-up triple in the second quarter ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401810480?utm_source=openai)). Meanwhile, Chet Holmgren made his presence felt around the rim with several blocks and timely finishes, despite limited minutes as he ramps up his return from a pelvis injury ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401810480?utm_source=openai)).

On the Bucks’ side, Giannis Antetokounmpo led in scoring and rebounding with 19 points, 14 boards and seven assists, but the rest of Milwaukee’s rotation struggled to contain OKC’s balanced attack ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/id/401810480?utm_source=openai)).

## Injury and Roster Notes
Oklahoma City showcased remarkable depth in handling a slew of absences. The Thunder played without Jalen Williams (strained right hamstring), Isaiah Hartenstein (strained right soleus), Alex Caruso (strained right adductor), Aaron Wiggins (sore right groin) and Jaylin Williams (bruised left glute), yet still dominated on both ends of the floor ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/id/401810480?utm_source=openai)). Ajay Mitchell’s hip contusion will be monitored, though early indications suggest only a short-term concern. Chet Holmgren, who suffered a pelvis fracture in November, logged limited minutes but blocked multiple shots and appeared comfortable at the rim—a positive sign ahead of Friday’s return to Paycom Center ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401810480?utm_source=openai)).

## Looking Ahead
The Thunder will return home to host the Indiana Pacers on Friday, Jan. 23, with a chance to pick up their 20th home win (currently 19-2) and further solidify their standing atop the Western Conference. Following Friday’s tilt, OKC embarks on a critical stretch facing playoff-caliber opponents, including the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns, before the All-Star break. Head coach Mark Daigneault, fresh off being named NBCA Coach of the Year, praised his team’s resilience in the postgame and emphasized trust in the next–man–up mentality that has defined their season ([nba.com](https://www.nba.com/news/thunder-coach-mark-daigneault-named-nbca-coach-of-year?utm_source=openai)).

With MVP frontrunner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander firing on all cylinders, a lockdown defense that ranks among the league’s best, and a deep bench that continues to contribute despite multiple injuries, the Thunder appear poised to sustain their Western Conference dominance as January draws to a close.

OKC Thunder Strikes Daily