The Philadelphia 76ers have slumped to a second-straight defeat to open their NBA season, and superstar center Joel Embiid is copping plenty of flak.
Embiid was left on the bench for large portions of the second half as James Harden almost single-handedly clawed the Sixers back from a ten-point deficit after three quarters to lead at the death.
But the Milwaukee Bucks fought through to claim a 90-88 win and begin a new season – one where they harbor title aspirations – in style.
Down by 10 at the start of the final quarter, the Bucks hit back to take the lead with less than two minutes to go, and again were up by two with just over 30 seconds remaining. But a Wesley Matthews three-pointer handed Milwaukee the lead, before Harden missed a tough shot as Milwaukee held on.
Fri, 21 Oct
Friday October 21st
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Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and an equal team-high eight assists to go with a game-high big blocks. He shot nine of 16 from the floor – 56.3 percent – and finished with a plus-minus of +13, more than double any other player.
But it was Joel Embiid’s dismal showing which stole the headlines.
Embiid managed 15 points, 12 rebounds and three assists, but shot just six of 21 from the floor – a woeful percentage of 28.6% – and turned the ball over a team-high four times. His plus-minus was -10, comfortably the worst in the game.
In the second half, he had zero points on seven attempts, and had three turnovers. Worse still, he looked out of fitness and at times disinterested.
James Harden carried the load for the Sixers and got them back into the game with 31 points in over 40 minutes on the court, with eight rebounds and nine assists. He also shot a career-high seven mid-range jumpers.
But Embiid and Harden both struggled from deep, scoring a combined two of ten three-point attempts.
The Bucks were without injured trio Pat Connaughton, Chris Middleton, and Australia’s Joe Ingles.
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