Gilgeous-Alexander scores 34 as Thunder roll past short-handed Bucks 125-96

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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, right, drives against Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr., left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

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Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left, looks to shoot over Milwaukee guard Andre Jackson Jr. (44) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

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Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left, looks for an outlet against Milwaukee guard Gary Trent Jr., right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

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Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander points after making a basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

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Milwaukee guard Pat Connaughton, left, drives against Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

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Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) looks to shoot between Milwaukee guards Delon Wright (55) and AJ Green, second from right, as Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. (5) watches during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

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Oklahoma City Thunder forward Ousmane Dieng (13) looks to shoot over Milwaukee Bucks forward Chris Livingston (7) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

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Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams, center, shoots over Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Johnson (77) as Bucks guard Delon Wright (55), forward Tyler Smith, second from right, and guard Pat Connaughton, right, watch during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

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Milwaukee Bucks guard Andre Jackson Jr. dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

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Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr., right, drives against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe (11) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

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Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams reacts after a dunk during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

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Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams, right, goes up for a dunk near Milwaukee Bucks guard Delon Wright, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

By CLIFF BRUNT

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points in 22 minutes, and the Oklahoma City Thunder routed the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks 125-96 on Monday night.

Milwaukee was without injured stars Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton, turning what could have been an exciting rematch of the NBA Cup final that Milwaukee won into a blowout.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA’s leading scorer, showed no mercy. He scored 21 points on 9-for-11 shooting in the first quarter as the Thunder took a 39-22 lead. He scored 30 in the first half as the Thunder took a 78-44 lead. He left the game for good with 6:17 remaining and the Thunder ahead 96-54.

Ousmane Dieng finished with 21 points and seven rebounds and Isaiah Joe added 18 points for the Thunder, who improved to 39-9 despite all-star Jalen Williams sitting out with a sprained right wrist.

Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP with nine straight All-Star Game selections, is dealing with right patella tendinopathy. Lillard has a sore left groin. Lopez has back soreness. Middleton’s workload is limited as he comes back from offseason surgery to each of his ankles.

It was too much for the Bucks to overcome in their fourth straight loss. The Bucks had scored at least 100 points in every regular-season game since scoring 99 points against Toronto on Nov. 12.

Ryan Rollins led the Bucks with 16 points.

Takeaways

Bucks: It was about what could be expected from a team that rested all its stars playing against the team with the second-best record in the league.

Thunder: Oklahoma City didn’t let down. The Thunder hounded the Bucks reserves like they were regular starters, forcing the Bucks into 37.6% shooting.

Key moment

Oklahoma City’s Jaylin Williams hit a 3-pointer as time expired in the first half.

Key stat

Oklahoma City shot 64.4% through the first three quarters.

Up next

The Bucks visit Charlotte and the Thunder host Phoenix on Wednesday night.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba