Houston Rockets vs Milwaukee Bucks Match Player Stats: Nov 9 Box Score

Kevin Durant saved his best for late Sunday night. The 36-year-old forward knocked down a tiebreaking jumper with 1:42 remaining, lifting the Houston Rockets to a hard-fought 122-115 win over the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum.

Final Score: Rockets 122-115 Bucks · Date: Nov 9, 2025 · Game Leaders: Durant 31 points · Q4 Rockets: 40 points · Bucks PPG Leader: Ryan Rollins 17.3

Who is favored to win: Rockets or Bucks?

Betting odds shifted throughout the week leading up to the game, with both teams entering with identical 5-3 records before tip-off. The Bucks held a slight home-court edge in the spread markets, while money-line odds favored Milwaukee by a narrow margin. By game time, the line had tightened considerably as sharp bettors grabbed value on Houston — a sign that the Rockets were getting more respect than in previous seasons.

Odds and betting trends

The Rockets finished with a 6-3 record including a 4-2 mark on the road, while the Bucks dropped to 6-4 overall with a 4-2 home record. After the win, Houston moved above .500 on the season for the first time since early October, a meaningful milestone for a young roster that many expected to struggle defensively all year.

April 1 preview insights

Looking ahead to the next meeting on April 1, the Rockets will have the homecourt advantage at the Toyota Center. If Houston continues to generate the same shooting volume it managed in Milwaukee — 79 field goal attempts compared to Milwaukee’s 90 — the second matchup could come down to free-throw execution, where the Bucks held a significant 76% to 58% advantage.

Who is the tall guy on the Rockets?

Boban Marjanović has been a fan favorite wherever he’s played, but in this particular matchup, it was the Rockets’ Alperen Şengün who dominated the paint. Şengün finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists — a stat line that looked more like a traditional point guard than a 7-footer who operates primarily in the post. His playmaking ability from the center position created easy looks for teammates all night.

Boban Marjanović profile

Marjanović remains one of the tallest players in NBA history at 7-foot-4, though his minutes vary significantly depending on matchup and defensive assignments. In games where the opposing big is more perimeter-oriented, he often sits in favor of quicker, switching lineups.

Who scores the most 3s on the Bucks?

Milwaukee’s three-point production came primarily from role players rather than Giannis Antetokounmpo, who attempted only one three all night and missed it. The Bucks finished 10-of-26 from distance (38%), a respectable rate but well below the 45% the Rockets managed. Ryan Rollins emerged as Milwaukee’s most consistent deep threat this season, averaging 17.3 points per game — though his scoring output in this specific game was more modest.

Career leaders stats

Milwaukee’s franchise history in three-point shooting has been built largely by guards and wings, with Khris Middleton holding a prominent place among the career leaders. Giannis, despite his volume shooting improvements, has never been a primary three-point threat and this game reinforced that approach.

What are the Houston Rockets vs Milwaukee Bucks match player stats?

The final box score shows exactly why Durant remains a nightmare matchup for opposing coaches. He went 11-of-15 from the field, 7-of-9 from the free-throw line, and 2-of-2 from three-point range. That’s not just efficiency — that’s the kind of night that erases any debate about whether he should still be taking late-game shots over younger teammates.

Box score details

Houston’s team shooting percentages tell the story of a balanced attack: 55.7% from the field as a team, 44.8% from three, and 58.3% from the free-throw line. The Rockets got contributions across the rotation, with Şengün’s double-double serving as the second-most productive individual night behind Durant’s fireworks.

Game leaders

Kevin Durant led all scorers with 31 points, adding 7 assists and 3 rebounds in a performance that justified his reputation as one of the most reliable go-to options in the game. Giannis Antetokounmpo responded with 37 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists of his own, but the Bucks’ supporting cast couldn’t generate enough secondary scoring to overcome Milwaukee’s late-game execution issues.

Team matchups

The shooting comparison reveals Milwaukee’s strategic challenge: the Bucks took more field goal attempts (90 vs 79) but converted at a lower percentage (53% vs 56%). Houston’s superior three-point percentage (45% vs 38%) made up for the attempt deficit, and the Rockets’ late-game poise in closeout situations proved decisive.

What was the Rockets vs Bucks score and key stats?

The Rockets won 122-115 in a game that wasn’t as close as the final margin suggests. Houston trailed for most of the night — down 30-28 after the first quarter and 61-50 at halftime — before erupting for 40 points in the fourth quarter alone. That fourth-period surge erased a deficit that had reached double digits and gave the Rockets their sixth win in nine games.

Quarter breakdowns

The quarter-by-quarter breakdown reveals Milwaukee’s missed opportunity: the Bucks won three of four quarters individually, but Houston’s 40-point fourth quarter — compared to Milwaukee’s 30 — more than made up for the earlier deficits. The math is brutal when a team posts 30 points and still loses because the opponent posted 40.

The implication: even dominating three quarters (Q1-Q2 and Q3) couldn’t offset the 10-point hole the Bucks dug in the final period.

Player stats highlights

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 37-point night was exceptional by any measure — 14-of-25 from the field, 9-of-14 from the free-throw line — yet it still wasn’t enough because Durant’s supporting numbers (11-of-15 FG, 7 assists) created a collective output the Bucks couldn’t match with their complementary players. Voor de volledige uitslag van de 500 meter schaatsen voor mannen vandaag, klik hier: Schaatsen 500 meter mannen vandaag.

What experts are saying

ESPN Staff WriterKevin Durant scored 31 points and made a tiebreaking basket with 1:42 remaining to put the Houston Rockets ahead for good in a 122-115 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday.

NBA Highlights NarratorThe Rockets defeated the Bucks, 122-115 tonight in Milwaukee. Kevin Durant finished with a team-high 31 points along with 7 assists and 3 rebounds.

Team shooting comparison

Three percentages, three different stories. The Rockets won the field-goal battle (56% vs 53%) and the three-point battle (45% vs 38%), but the Bucks won the free-throw battle (76% vs 58%). In the end, the first two categories mattered more than the third.

The catch: Milwaukee’s free-throw superiority couldn’t compensate for the efficiency gap from the field and beyond the arc, despite taking 11 more shots.

The Bucks attempted 11 more shots but converted at a lower percentage — a paradox that cost them the game despite playing solid basketball for three quarters. Houston’s efficiency advantage from the field and beyond the arc outweighed Milwaukee’s free-throw superiority.

Final thoughts

The Rockets’ win in Milwaukee answers questions about their ceiling as a competitive team. Houston proved it can win on the road against a top-tier Eastern Conference opponent, something that separates legitimate contenders from pretenders in a crowded Western Conference. Durant’s late-game execution reminded everyone that experience still counts for something in crunch time.

For Bucks fans, the loss stings because the formula was there — Giannis posting 37 points, three quarters of solid play — but the fourth quarter collapse exposed Milwaukee’s depth issues when the opposing star gets hot. For the Rockets, this win signals something real: a young team with legitimate closer DNA, and a veteran who still has the killer instinct when it matters most.

Related reading: Houston Rockets vs Milwaukee Bucks NBA game box score and player stats November 9 2025

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