Oh, Deer: Shorthanded Thunder Falls To Bucks

The undermanned Thunder put forth another stellar defensive effort on Tuesday night. Unfortunately, the offense was MIA in MIL.

Reggie Jackson poured in 29 points but didn't receive much help as the Thunder fell to the Milwaukee Bucks 85-78 at the Bradley Center.

Oklahoma City got off to a hot start, outscoring the Bucks 22-15 in the opening frame. Milwaukee woke up in the second quarter, dropping 26 points and holding the Thunder to just 16. The Thunder's three-point halftime deficit turned into five at the end of the third, but that's when the Bucks ran away with it.

Milwaukee used a 7-0 run early in the fourth to take a 77-66 lead, and the Thunder simply didn't have enough weapons. Key scoring options just couldn't find the range on Tuesday, specifically Jeremy Lamb, who scored just six points on 2-13 shooting. Serge Ibaka also struggled, scoring 14 on 4-13 shooting.

With Lamb and Ibaka cold, OKC couldn't keep up. Nick Collison went scoreless in 15 minutes, Sebastian Telfair scored just two on 1-6 shooting, Steven Adams managed only two points in 25 minutes and Lance Thomas shot 2-10.

One bright spot for the scuffling Thunder was the play of shooting guard Anthony Morrow. Morrow, the sharp-shooting journeyman, chipped in 10 points on 4-7 shooting in his Thunder debut.

Oklahoma City put up season-lows in points (78) and field-goal percentage (33.3).

O.J. Mayo's 19 points off the bench led the Bucks, while Giannis Antetokounmpo added 14 points and nine rebounds in a reserve role. Brandon Knight scored 16 points and was the only Milwaukee starter in double digits.

The win marks the Bucks' first two-game winning streak in 105 contests. This was Milwaukee's first win over the Thunder since 2010.

Oklahoma City (2-6) is back at it on Wednesday night in Boston. The Thunder is still in search of its first road win of the season (0-5).