Rapid Recap: 76ers 116, Bucks 94

The Milwaukee Bucks dropped tonight’s contest against the Philadelphia 76ers, 116-94. The Bucks trotted out their eleventh different starting lineup of the season, this one did not include Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) and Malcolm Brogdon (personal). The Bucks pieced together a closer-than-expected first half and were down by only six at the break, despite trailing by as much as 16. A 13-4 run to close out the half was spearheaded by [squints at note card] Marshall Plumlee, who signed a two-way contract earlier in the week.

The Bucks were able to continue that run into the third quarter by benefiting from 11 76ers turnovers and cutting the lead to four. Unfortunately, Philadelphia flipped the script and started the fourth quarter on a 13-2 run. They followed that run up with an 11-0 run not long after, which effectively put the game away with 4:45 remaining. Those two Philadelphia runs were mired with Milwaukee committing turnovers and playing less than stellar defense.

With the “G” missing from KEG, Khris Middleton went out and carded the first triple-double of his career. Khash led the Bucks in the three main scoring categories with 23 points, 14 rebounds, and ten assists. Eric Bledsoe struggled mightily tonight in South Philadelphia. He managed to score 14 points on a dismal 27 percent shooting. His positive impact on the night was on the defensive end where he gobbled up five steals. The Bucks needed both of these guys to step up in a big way and unfortunately neither were able to catch fire from the field and lead the shorthanded Bucks to a victory over an Eastern Conference peer.

Sterling Brown got his first career start tonight and made the most of his season-high 39 minutes. The rookie scored 12 of his 14 points from beyond the arc, shooting four-of-seven from deep. He even added a couple of offensive rebounds to go along with his usual solid weak-side defending. Hopefully this performance will encourage the coaching staff to give Brown more higher stakes minutes off the bench as the season rolls on.

We all figured that Joel Embiid would feast on the Bucks rail-thin big men, and feast he did. The All-Star starter finished with 29 points, nine rebounds, and a handful of thunderous, dump-off jams. Ben Simmons nearly joined Middleton in the triple-double club, scoring 16 points, grabbing eight rebounds, and dishing out nine assists. Even former Wisconsin Herd member, James Young, got in on the action with a first half three-pointer.

Stat That Stood Out

Philadelphia finished +30 in points in the paint. Not having Antetokounmpo serve as a rim protector and rim finisher really skewed the final number in the 76ers favor. We all expected Embiid to do what he does best against the Bucks big men and the Bucks relied on their perimeter game to keep them in this one. Unfortunately, it was not enough and Philadelphia had clean looks at the rim all night without ever feeling challenged at the rim on the defensive end.