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Opinion

Sixers-Bucks: Maintaining focus versus undermanned Milwaukee

The Sixers could move into sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings with a victory over the undermanned Milwaukee Bucks.

Sixers T.J. McConnell, left, and Joel Embiid, right, play to the crowd during the 4th quarter against the Toronto Raptors on January 15, 2018.
Sixers T.J. McConnell, left, and Joel Embiid, right, play to the crowd during the 4th quarter against the Toronto Raptors on January 15, 2018.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
    by Keith Pompey | Columnist
    Published 

Milwaukee Bucks (23-21) at Sixers (21-20)

Saturday at 7:30 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center

Talking points

The Sixers could move into sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings with a victory over the undermanned Bucks. Milwaukee will be without four players, including NBA All-Star Game starter Giannis Antetokounmpo, so the Sixers should win unless they lack focus and take the Bucks lightly. Milwaukee has lost three of their last four games.

How to watch and follow the game

  1. TV and streaming: NBC Sports Philadelphia

  2. Radio: 97.5 FM

  3. Twitter: @PompeyOnSixers

Starting lineups

Bucks  (23-21)

22 Khris Middleton SF 6-8 20.0 ppg 5.0 rpg.

5 DJ Wilson PF 6-10 0.6  ppg. 0.4 rpg.

31 John Henson C 6-11 8.5  ppg. 6.8 rpg.

21 Tony Snell SG 6-7 8.0 ppg. 2.1 rpg.

6 Eric Bledsoe PG 6-1 17.5 ppg. 4.1 apg.

Coach: JasonKidd (fifth season, 183-189)

Injury report:  Giannis Antetokounmpo (right-knee soreness, out), Malcolm Brogdon (personal,out), Jabari Parker (post surgery, left knee, out) and Mirza Teletovic (pulmonary emboli, out)

Sixers (21-20)

33 Robert Covington SF 6-9  13.4 ppg. 5.9 rpg

9 Dario Saric PF 6-10  13.6 ppg. 6.9  rpg.

21 Joel Embiid C 7-2 23.9 ppg. 11.0 rpg.

0 Jerryd Bayless SG 6-3  8.3 ppg. 2.2 rpg.

25 Ben Simmons PG 6-10 16.6 ppg. 7.2 apg.

Coach: Brett Brown (fifth season, 96-273)

Injury report: Markelle Fultz (right shoulder rehabilitation, out); Furkan Korkmaz (Lisfranc fracture, out); JJ Redick (fractured left knee, out)

Head-to-head

The Bucks hold a 105-98 series lead after winning the last two meetings.

Coming games

Monday: 8 p.m., at FedEx Forum, Sixers at Memphis Grizzlies

Wednesday: 7 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Chicago Bulls at Sixers

Friday: 8:30 p.m., AT&T Center, Sixers at San Antonio Spurs

Jan 28: 6 p.m., Chesapeake Energy Arena, Sixers at Oklahoma City Thunder

Jan.29: 8 p.m., BMO Harris Bradley Center, Sixers at Milwaukee Bucks