Sixers cannot deal with the Bucks’ firepower in a 119-98 loss
With Joel Embiid still sidelined, they had no answer for Giannis Antetokoumpo, who racked up 30 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists.
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The numbers on the scoreboard Sunday afternoon weren’t predetermined, but they were definitely predictable.
Even with Milwaukee Bucks star Khris Middleton out because of a sprained left ankle, the disparity between the 76ers and Bucks was severe.
» READ MORE: Sixers show appreciation for Doc Rivers ahead of his return with Milwaukee
Perennial All-NBA selections Giannis Antetokounmpo and Dame Lillard were in Milwaukee’s green uniforms. So were elite rim protector Brook Lopez and gritty, sharpshooting reserve Bobby Portis. Reigning MVP Joel Embiid had on a cream hoodie and matching sweats while conversing with his Sixers teammates.
Oddsmakers had the Bucks favored by five points before tipoff because most of their stars were playing and the Sixers were without their reason for hope. Milwaukee rolled to a 119-98 victory at the Wells Fargo Center. The scrappy Sixers got no closer than 11 points after falling behind by 23 in the third quarter.
The Sixers (33-24) showed some flashes of competitiveness against the Bucks (37-21), who are led by former Philly coach Doc Rivers. But they couldn’t overcome poor shooting and Milwaukee’s superior talent while losing for the 11th time in their last 15 games. The Sixers also dropped to 7-16 without Embiid. The seven-time All-Star hasn’t played since Jan. 30. He could return from meniscus surgery on his left knee in mid-to-late March.
The Sixers looked like a team in desperate need of his presence.
Antetokounmpo torched them for 30 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists. Lillard had 24 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds. Portis had 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting. Lopez had 11 points, seven rebounds, and five blocks.
Meanwhile, Malik Beasley had 20 points while hitting 6 of 7 three-pointers.
All-Star point guard Tyrese Maxey had 24 points, seven assists, three rebounds, and three steals to lead the Sixers. De’Anthony Melton added 16 points in his second game back from a spine injury. And Paul Reed, who was in foul trouble, had 13 points and eight rebounds.
However, the Sixers were doomed by 37.1% shooting.
“I think offensively, we didn’t play near enough the way we needed to,” coach Nick Nurse said. “I think we got a little quick in the shot selection. And I think it was a little bit contagious and then we didn’t make some of them.
‘They weren’t the worst shots in the world. But if you are going to take some of those, I know it sounds silly, but you’ve got to make them.”
Power forward Tobias Harris (eight points, 3-of-11 shooting), guard Buddy Hield (11, 4 of 13) and reserve swingman Kelly Oubre Jr. (12, 5 of 15) all had rough shooting afternoons. Haris went 0-for-3 on three-pointers. Hield was 3 of 9, Oubre made 1 of 5.
“They are pretty long, they did a good job on him tonight,” Nurse said of the Bucks defending Harris. “We just have to make sure we get the package mixed up a little bit for him because he can do a variety of things.”
» READ MORE: Sixers show appreciation for Doc Rivers ahead of his return with Milwaukee
But the Sixers had a slim chance of winning with Harris and Hield struggling to find their shots.
“You don’t expect everybody to have a good shooting night,” Nurse said. “But when two or three of them, you know Kelly in there too, right? One-for-five, three-for-nine, zero-for-three, that’s guys we need to score, make some shots.”
The Sixers went back to the starting lineup of Nico Batum, Harris, Hield, Reed, and Maxey.
Kyle Lowry and Oubre were the first two players off the bench, while Melton was the eighth man. KJ Martin was sidelined with left ankle soreness.
The Sixers will look to erase memories of this loss. But the schedule doesn’t get any easier. They’ll will practice Monday in Camden before heading to Boston for Tuesday’s game against the Celtics. Boston has the league’s best record at 45-12.
“We’ve just got to stay hungry,” Oubre said. “Stay hungry, stay ready, and stay confident. You know this a tough part of the season for us, man. But at the end of the day, we’re the ones out there hooping. We’ve got to go and make it happen.”
This will be the teams’ fourth and final meeting of the season. The Sixers defeated the Celtics, 106-103, on Nov. 8 at home. Then they lost to the Celtics by 117-107 in Philly on Nov. 15 and by 125-119 on Dec. 1 at Boston.