By The Associated Press’s Rich Rovito
MILWAUKEE The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, who were shorthanded, 123-109 on Sunday night thanks to 34 points and 15 rebounds from Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Milwaukee finished a 4-0 homestand with 25 points from Damian Lillard. In 25 minutes off the bench, Khris Middleton finished with 13 points and eight assists. Taurean Prince scored 11 points, and Brook Lopez contributed 12.
Tyrese Maxey scored 37 points and dished out seven assists to lead the 76ers. Eric Gordon scored ten points, Ricky Council IV scored thirteen, and Kelly Oubre Jr. scored nineteen. Philadelphia has dropped nine of 11 games and six in a row as they play for the second night in a row.
Due to injury, the 76ers (15-26) lost a number of important players, including Joel Embiid, Paul George, Kyle Lowry, and Guerschon Yabusele, but they stayed with the Bucks until the end. Milwaukee climbed seven games higher, a season-high.500 on 24-17.
In his first start for Philadelphia, rookie Adem Bona scored 10 points in 24 minutes. After going 5 or 5 against Indiana on Saturday night, he went 4 of 4 from the field.
In the first half of an NBA basketball game on Sunday, January 19, 2025, in Milwaukee, Ricky Council IV of the Philadelphia 76ers, on the right, shoots around Brook Lopez (11) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) of the Milwaukee Bucks. (Photo by Aaron Gash/AP)AP
Takeaways
76ers: Philadelphia started the second quarter with a 10-0 run to take the lead after falling behind by nine points after the first quarter. Before frigid shooting caused a nine-point disadvantage at the half, it later increased the lead to five points.
Bucks: Milwaukee cooled off a little after three straight games with scorching first quarters, but they still managed to score 30 points in the first quarter and maintain a nine-point lead despite having trouble making long-range jumpers.
Key moment
Antetokounmpo gave the Bucks a 56-50 lead with a reverse slam on a pass from Lillard with 1:11 remaining in the first half. Middleton then increased the margin to nine points with a step-back 3-pointer.
Key stat
In the first half, the 76ers missed seven out of fourteen free shots.
Up next
On Tuesday night, Philadelphia plays at Denver. Milwaukee’s six-game trip begins Wednesday night when they travel to New Orleans.
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