Thunder's Mark Daigneault reveals biggest reason for stunning Bucks upset

Thunder head coach cites Milwaukee's defense for disrupting Oklahoma City's offense in blowout loss

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault pointed to the Milwaukee Bucks' stifling defense as the primary reason for his team's 110-93 blowout loss at home. Daigneault said the Thunder struggled to find any offensive rhythm against the Bucks' well-organized defense, which held Oklahoma City to just 37.3% shooting from the floor. Despite missing several key players, the Bucks had a balanced scoring attack with seven players reaching double figures, including a team-high 19 points from a former Thunder player acquired at the trade deadline.

Why it matters

The loss was a surprising upset, as the Thunder entered the game with the NBA's best record at 42-14. Daigneault's comments highlight how the Bucks were able to disrupt the Thunder's high-powered offense, which will be an important lesson for Oklahoma City as they prepare for the playoffs.

The details

The Bucks jumped out to a 24-point lead over the Thunder, who were missing several key players including All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Milwaukee's defense held Oklahoma City to under 40% shooting, while the Bucks drained 17 three-pointers in a balanced scoring effort. Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren led his team with 16 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 13, 2026.

The players

Mark Daigneault

The head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

The star player for the Milwaukee Bucks who missed the game.

Jalen Williams

A player for the Oklahoma City Thunder who missed the game due to injury.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The All-Star player for the Oklahoma City Thunder who missed his fifth consecutive game with an abdominal injury.

Chet Holmgren

The Oklahoma City Thunder rookie who earned his first All-Star nod and led his team with 16 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We weren't able to really get any offensive rhythm tonight for whatever reason. I thought there were a lot of possessions we weren't very organized, which sets you back at the beginning of possessions. Milwaukee did a great job; obviously, they outplayed us the whole night. But, obviously, it just wasn't our best night. But I thought our process let us down on a lot of plays.”

— Mark Daigneault, Head Coach, Oklahoma City Thunder (clutchpoints.com)

What’s next

The Thunder will enter the All-Star break with the NBA's best record at 42-14. They will look to regroup and learn from this loss as they prepare for the playoffs.

The takeaway

This game highlighted how even the league's top teams can struggle when their offense is disrupted by a strong defensive effort. The Thunder's loss to the Bucks without several key players shows the importance of maintaining offensive rhythm and organization, even against short-handed opponents.