Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder have defied expectations this season by competing for a championship. However, when they faced Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on the Bucks’ home court, it was a familiar outcome.

In a matchup at the Fiserv Forum, the Bucks dominated with a 118-93 victory, led by Antetokounmpo’s impressive performance of 30 points, 19 rebounds, and four assists in over 33 minutes of play. Khris Middleton contributed a triple-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, solidifying the win for Milwaukee.

The Thunder experienced a subpar performance from Gilgeous-Alexander, who managed 12 points, three rebounds, two assists, and three steals. Josh Giddey tried to fill the gap by leading OKC with 19 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.

With this win, Milwaukee strengthened their position as the second seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 46 wins and 25 losses. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City relinquished their top spot in the Western Conference, slipping to second place with a record of 49-21.

Milwaukee Bucks Star Giannis Antetokounmpo Shares How His Team Contained Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

In a post on X, Joel Lorenzi shared Antetokounmpo’s response to reporters’ inquiries about how the Bucks managed to contain Gilgeous-Alexander, who is considered one of the top MVP candidates this season.

Giannis on limiting Shai: “I think we just showed a lot of help. We know he’s the head of the snake. … You see guys that average 30, 35. But he’s also a willing passer. So that kind of helps you sometimes because he’s gonna try to make the right play, he’s not gonna force it,” Lorenzi tweeted.

The Bucks attributed their success in containing the Thunder’s primary offensive threat, Gilgeous-Alexander, to their awareness of his scoring ability and playmaking skills. This strategy made it challenging for other Oklahoma City players to make significant contributions against a formidable team like Milwaukee.

As the regular season nears its conclusion and the playoffs loom, every game holds significance for both the Thunder and the Bucks. Based on their recent performance, it appears that Antetokounmpo and the Bucks are heading in the right direction as they prepare for the postseason.