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Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. and center Myles Turner will not play Wednesday night vs the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to a Bucks update shared by The Athletic’s Eric Nehm on X. Nehm noted Porter is dealing with an oblique muscle strain, while Turner has a left ankle sprain.
Per the Bucks, Kevin Porter Jr. (oblique muscle strain) and Myles Turner (left ankle sprain) are both out tonight vs. Oklahoma City. https://t.co/MCZWCRiDfb
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) January 21, 2026
The bigger concern, though, came from head coach Doc Rivers, who suggested Porter’s injury could linger.
Bucks Rule Out Kevin Porter Jr., Myles Turner vs Thunder
In Nehm’s post, the Bucks listed Porter Jr. (oblique muscle strain) and Turner (left ankle sprain) as out against Oklahoma City.
Porter Jr. and Turner being ruled out immediately sparked “is he playing tonight?” search behavior but Rivers’ comments made this feel bigger than a one-game absence.
In an AP report from Rivers’ pregame availability, Rivers said Porter won’t play “any time soon” and the team doesn’t have a timetable. Rivers also said he believes the oblique issue happened “three or four games ago,” noted Porter appeared to be playing through it, and confirmed the Bucks did an MRI that showed the strain.
The AP story added Porter has averaged 16.8 points, five rebounds and 7.4 assists this season.
On the official NBA injury report, Milwaukee listed Porter Jr. (oblique strain) and Turner (left ankle sprain) as out, along with Taurean Prince (neck surgery) and Alex Antetokounmpo (two-way/G League).
Key details:
Kevin Porter Jr.: oblique muscle strain — out vs OKC
Myles Turner: left ankle sprain — out vs OKC
Doc Rivers: said Porter “not gonna play anytime soon” and the team doesn’t know how long he’ll be out
Milwaukee Bucks Depth Chart: Who Starts With Kevin Porter Jr., Myles Turner Out?
With Kevin Porter Jr. (oblique strain) and Myles Turner (left ankle sprain) both ruled out, Milwaukee’s lineup shifts.
Confirmed starting lineup vs. Thunder
Milwaukee’s starting five for Wednesday night is:
Milwaukee’s injuries force Ryan Rollins into the lead-guard role and push Gary Harris into a bigger wing spot, while Kyle Kuzma sliding to center is the clearest ripple effect of Turner being out. With Giannis Antetokounmpo anchoring the frontcourt, the Bucks will lean heavily on spacing and perimeter defense around him as they patch together the rotation.
Doc Rivers: Porter’s Oblique Happened “Three or Four Games Ago,” MRI Confirmed Issue
Rivers gave two notable pieces of context in the quotes Nehm posted.
First, Rivers said he believes Porter’s oblique strain started “three or four games ago,” and that Porter appeared to be playing through it, pointing out you could see him grabbing at it in recent games.
Second, Rivers added that the Bucks did an MRI “yesterday,” and “it is what it is,” before delivering the blunt update: Porter is “not gonna play anytime soon,” and the team doesn’t know the timeline.
That’s the part that turns this from a simple “out tonight” item into a story with real pressure for Milwaukee’s short-term rotation.
What It Means for the Bucks Rotation Right Now
Porter and Turner being ruled out in the same game forces Milwaukee to cover both guard minutes and frontcourt minutes at once.
In the short term, this typically means:
More ball-handling and creation duties for Milwaukee’s available guards and wings
A reshuffled big-man rotation, with extra minutes for backups and small-ball looks
A heavier workload for the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo and his 28.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.5 assits per game.
If Rivers is right that Porter won’t be back “anytime soon,” the Bucks could be looking at multiple games without one of their perimeter options, something worth monitoring on the next injury report cycle.
Bad News for Bucks vs. Thunder While on ESPN
Fans expecting to see how the Bucks stack up against the very-talented Thunder team were left a searching for more.
“Kevin Porter Jr” and “Myles Turner” both are major starters for the Bucks this season, and fans wanting to see them makes sense when their team is in the national spotlight on ESPN.
How to Watch/Stream Thunder vs. Bucks
The Thunder and Bucks tip at 9:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. CT) at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
TV channels:
Streaming options:
Radio: NBA.com lists 620 AM / 103.3 FM WTMJ for Milwaukee and WWLS for OKC.
Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA, MLB and NFL for Heavy.com. He also focuses on the trading card market. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson
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