Thunder snap skid with win over slumping Bucks

Justin Jackson had a season-high 22 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 114-109 home win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, February 14 (Monday, February 15, Manila time).

Jackson hit all 4 of his three-point attempts, including one from the top of the key with 14 seconds left to put the Thunder ahead by 5 and all but put the game away.

Jackson did not play much early in the season, but with Oklahoma City being shorthanded recently, his role has grown. He has scored a combined 42 points over the past two games.

Darius Bazley assisted on the final Jackson three-pointer for the 32nd assist by the Thunder, helping Oklahoma City snap a three-game losing streak.

Al Horford scored 20 points and led the Thunder with 9 assists. Luguentz Dort added 19 points and Bazley 18.

Hamidou Diallo had a career-high 13 rebounds.

Milwaukee dropped its third consecutive game.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 24 points, while Khris Middleton added 23 and Bobby Portis 21.

The Thunder led for much of the middle two quarters before Milwaukee made its push.

Oklahoma City led by 11 with more than 7 minutes left in the 3rd before the Bucks closed the quarter with a 23-12 run to force a tie heading into the 4th.

The Bucks nearly matched their first-half point total in the 3rd quarter alone, scoring 40 points.

Bryn Forbes and Portis led the way for Milwaukee in the quarter, combining for 22 points – 12 by Forbes.

The Bucks jumped ahead early, leading 13-3 just more than 4 minutes in and looked to bury Oklahoma City quickly.

But after a cold start from the field, making just 1 of 7 to start the game, Oklahoma City made 6 of its next 8 shots to reel off a 14-0 run and take their first lead of the game.

While the Thunder got hot from the floor, Milwaukee went the other way.

In scoring just 41 points before halftime, the Bucks were just 3 of 18 from behind the three-point line.

Milwaukee had not scored fewer than 45 first-half points in any game this season. – Rappler.com