Ousmane Dieng Returns to Haunt Thunder as Bucks Secure 110-93 Victory in Topic’s Debut

Key Takeaways:

• Ousmane Dieng recorded 19 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and four blocks
• Both Milwaukee and Oklahoma City were without key players, including Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
• Nikola Topic, the No. 12 pick in the 2024 draft, made his NBA debut following his cancer recovery

Match Analysis

The Milwaukee Bucks, led by former Oklahoma City Thunder forward Ousmane Dieng, registered a 110-93 win over the Thunder in Oklahoma City on Thursday night. Dieng, who had been traded by the Thunder shortly before the deadline, posted a standout performance against his former club, contributing 19 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and four blocks.

Dieng, standing at 6-foot-9, had previously achieved G-League Finals MVP honours as the Oklahoma City Blue secured the 2024 championship, and also served as a key reserve for the Thunder earlier in the season.

Heading into the break on a high note. pic.twitter.com/0aAQ6UQbCH

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 13, 2026

Both sides entered the contest short-handed. For the Bucks, head coach Doc Rivers was absent due to attending a funeral, with assistant Darvin Ham stepping into the lead role. Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo missed out with a right calf strain. The Thunder were also notably depleted, lacking reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain) and Jalen Williams (right hamstring strain); both are set for re-evaluation after the All-Star break.

Player Performances

Milwaukee’s AJ Green added 17 points, while Bobby Portis recorded a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. As for Oklahoma City, Isaiah Joe tallied 17 points and Chet Holmgren notched 16 points alongside 13 rebounds. The Thunder came into this matchup having collected road victories over the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns.

Nikola Topic’s Inspiring Debut

A notable moment came for the Thunder when Nikola Topic, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 draft, saw the court for the first time after a challenging journey. Topic, diagnosed with testicular cancer and also having missed his first year with a torn ACL, entered play late in the first quarter to a rousing ovation. He scored his first and only field goal from near the free-throw line in the second quarter, finishing his 12-minute debut with two points, one rebound, and one assist.

Game Flow and Key Statistics

The Bucks maintained control throughout the first half, carrying a 67-55 advantage into the interval. Chet Holmgren contributed 11 points in the closing three minutes and ten seconds before half-time to keep the Thunder within reach. In the third, Milwaukee restricted Oklahoma City to just 16 points, expanding the gap to 89-73 by the start of the final period. The Bucks went on to increase their advantage to as many as 24 points in the fourth quarter before settling on the final margin.

Looking Ahead

Next on the schedule, Milwaukee will travel to face New Orleans on Friday, 20 February. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City are set to host Brooklyn on the same date.