Bucks Vs Pelicans: Milwaukee 139, New Orleans 118 in Smoothie King Center Win
In the latest bucks vs pelicans meeting, the Milwaukee Bucks beat the New Orleans Pelicans 139-118 at Smoothie King Center on Feb. 20, 2026, a result that reinforced Milwaukee’s shift back toward winning after the trade deadline and All-Star break.
Bucks Vs Pelicans — a statement win for Milwaukee
The 139-118 score on Feb. 20 followed a previous overtime meeting the teams played, when Milwaukee won 141-137 in OT. That earlier win and three victories in the next four games — including road wins over the Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder — set the stage for this decisive showing at Smoothie King Center.
Dieng and Thomas at the center of Milwaukee’s resurgence
Milwaukee’s turnaround has been tied to new recruits Cam Thomas and Ousmane Dieng, who the preview noted have been “at the centre of the resurgence. ” The team traded Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey to bring in those pieces; the preview described the moves as making the Bucks younger, filling positional needs and adding upside. With Giannis (calf), Taurean Prince (neck) and Myles Turner (calf) listed out, the Bucks leaned on their newcomers and remaining rotation to produce the winning margin in New Orleans.
Pelicans’ wing-heavy lineup, injuries and roster moves
New Orleans has leaned on its wing scorers across the stretch: Zion Williamson (24. 0 PPG, 70% shooting), Trey Murphy III (22. 0 PPG, 6. 0 APG, 4. 3 3PM) and Saddiq Bey (18. 7 PPG, 7. 3 RPG) were identified as the usual suspects. The Pelicans’ unconventional starting group mixes size on the wing while oddly not starting anyone over 6'9". At the deadline the Pelicans traded Jose Alvarado to the New York Knicks for Dalen Terry and two future second-round picks; the team was described as sticking with the roster front office believes is a playoff group, even as the preview referenced a 15-41 record.
Injuries shaped both lineups. The preview listed Dejounte Murray (Achilles), Yves Missi (calf) and Micah Peavy (toe) as out for New Orleans, with Trey Murphy III listed as doubtful (shoulder). Those absences and doubts factored into the matchup that ended 139-118.
The win continues a clear theme from the preview: after the trade deadline and All-Star weekend, Milwaukee has been “embracing winning again. ” That pattern — the overtime victory, subsequent road wins and now a 139-118 result at Smoothie King Center on Feb. 20, 2026 — frames the Bucks’ late-season approach as they press through the remainder of the regular season.
Both clubs return to their regular-season schedules with the season in its tail end; the Bucks will carry momentum from the win while New Orleans recalibrates around its remaining health and rotation after the roster move involving Jose Alvarado.
