In another NBA regular season game of the 2025/26 season, the Milwaukee Bucks lost 102-122 at home to the Oklahoma City Thunder, thanks to goals from Giannis Antetokounmpo, Cole Anthony, and Bobby Portis. Doc Rivers stated that the players' morale remains high and that the upcoming games will test the team's strength.

According to the data, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 19 points and 7 assists in this game, Cole Anthony scored 17 points and 3 assists, while Bobby Portis contributed 15 points and 9 assists for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said in an interview, "I think the opponent did a good job of suppressing Antetokounmpo, but we didn't do a good job of getting the ball to him in the right place, which is exactly what we've been working on in practice. The difference in the game was in the first 12 minutes; we almost completely fell into their trap."

"We committed eight turnovers in the first quarter, which was purely due to poor ball handling. We emphasized two things before the game: protecting the ball and playing as a team. But on offense, we were just playing one-on-one. We need to get Antetokounmpo into the elbow area more often. They were guarding him in the first possession. We practiced cutting inside to receive the ball, but nobody on the court was moving. We need to work on that aspect more."

Doc Rivers pointed out, "Especially with Antetokounmpo's playing time limited, we can't afford to get into trouble early on. If we fall behind at the start, we have to take Antetokounmpo out, and the gap will only widen further, which is exactly what happened in this game."

When discussing the performance of other players, Doc Rivers said, "AJ Green always plays naturally. His shooting percentage is as high as that of the four and five players in the league, especially considering the way he shoots. He is a highly efficient and excellent basketball player."

“Peter Nance has also been performing exceptionally well. He knows how to play, contributes to the team, is willing to pass and make the right decisions, and remains consistent on the defensive end. Amidst this series of difficulties, he is probably one of the few bright spots.”

In addition, Doc Rivers said, "I think our fighting spirit is still very high, and you can feel it in the team atmosphere. The next few games are very crucial, all of which we have a chance to win, and all at home. We will get some rest, and the next four or five games will really test our strength."

Image source: Internet