The Oklahoma City Thunder entered their January 21, 2026 matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks with significant shifts in their starting lineup — not by strategy, but by necessity.
A rash of injuries to key rotation players forced head coach Mark Daigneault to rethink his usual rotation and deploy a much different look to start the game at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
Injury Crisis Forces a Roster Shake-Up
Oklahoma City’s championship aspirations hit a snag as multiple starters and key contributors were unavailable or limited heading into the Bucks game:
Jalen Williams – Out with a strained right hamstring
Alex Caruso – Ruled out with right adductor strain
Isaiah Hartenstein – Still out with a right soleus strain
Aaron Wiggins – Late scratch due to right groin soreness
Jaylin Williams – In street clothes with a left glute contusion
That left Daigneault without not just one but several rotation staples — two regular starters (Williams, Caruso) and one of the coach’s usual “go-to” bench options (Wiggins).
An Unconventional Starting Five
With the Thunder down so many bodies, Daigneault opted for an unorthodox set of starters to begin the game.
Instead of the typical balance of wings and bigs, OKC went relatively small and guard-heavy while keeping one traditional big man to anchor the lineup.
Oklahoma City Thunder Starting Lineup vs. Bucks
Lu Dort (G)
Cason Wallace (G)
Ajay Mitchell (G)
Chet Holmgren (C)
This grouping leaned into speed, ball-handling, and shooting, giving the Thunder a more perimeter-centric look than usual.
The lineup raised strategic questions — namely, who would be responsible for containing Giannis Antetokounmpo and controlling the paint on both ends.
Bucks Also Dealing With Absences
The Bucks weren’t untouched by injury either. Milwaukee entered the game without several rotation players, including:
Myles Turner – Out with a left ankle sprain
Kevin Porter Jr. – Out with an oblique strain
Taurean Prince – Out recovering from neck surgery
Alex Antetokounmpo – Out on a G League two-way assignment
This anomaly meant both teams were far from full strength — making the tipping point of the game dependent on how well each unit adapted and which bench contributors could step up.
Strategic Implications of the Lineup Changes
OKC’s decision to roll out a four-guard lineup essentially commits to pace and spacing, signaling confidence in their backcourt depth even with key pieces missing.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort shouldered much of the scoring and defensive burden, while Holmgren acted as the lone traditional center.
But this alignment also presented challenges:
Rebounding and interior defense became liabilities without Hartenstein and Caruso.
Guard combinations had to take on tough defensive assignments, including containing wings like Giannis.
Role players like Ajay Mitchell and Cason Wallace were asked to absorb more minutes and responsibilities.
Where the Thunder Go From Here
Despite shorthanded lineups, OKC remains among the league’s elite.
They’ve won 36 of their first 44 games, a testament to depth and organizational resilience.
The matchup against the Bucks — even with reconfigured rosters — serves as a valuable stress test.
How the newer combinations perform could influence rotations not just this week, but through the season as the Thunder aim for another deep playoff run.
