After a split in New York, the 76ers (36-29) continue their three-game road trip by visiting the Milwaukee Bucks (42-24) on Thursday.
The Sixers are 0-2 against the Bucks this season, including a one-point road loss in Milwaukee in the season opener on Oct. 26. Damian Lillard scored a game-high 39 points (17-17 ft), while Tyrese Maxey countered with 31 points and a game-high eight assists. Kelly Oubre Jr. poured in 27 points (9-11 fg, 5-6 3fg, 4-4 ft) off the bench in his Sixers’ debut. The Bucks won in Philadelphia more recently, 119-98, on Feb. 26.
Most recently, the Sixers fell to the New York Knicks on Tuesday by a final score of 106-79. Josh Hart led the Knicks with his fourth triple-double of the season: 20 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists. Maxey scored 17 points in his return to action following a four-game absence due to a concussion. The Sixers are 7-12 without Joel Embiid (left knee meniscus procedure) since Feb. 1.
“Its disappointing to be sitting here [after a loss] because we made some huge
strides in the last six quarters,” 76ers head coach Nick Nurse said postgame.
OPPONENT OUTLOOK
The 42-24 Bucks return from a four-game West Coast road trip in which they went 1-3. On Tuesday in Sacramento, the Kings defeated the Bucks by 35 points, 129-94. The loss snapped a 15-game winning streak against the Kings, which was the longest active streak in the NBA for any team against an opponent.
The Bucks’ lone win on the trip was Sunday over the LA Clippers, who were without both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, in addition to Russell Westbrook. Now set to host the Sixers, Milwaukee boasts a 25-7 home record.
The first-year duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo (30.8 ppg, 11.2 rpg) and Damian Lillard (24.4 ppg, 6.8 apg) continues to lead the Bucks.
76ERS-BUCKS INJURY REPORT
Joel Embiid (left knee meniscus procedure), De’Anthony Melton (back; lumbar spine bone stress), and Robert Covington (left knee bone bruise) remain out for the 76ers.
The Bucks listed four players with injuries on the Wednesday evening injury report: Malik Beasley (questionable - back spasms), MarJon Beauchamp (questionable - back spasms), Patrick Beverley (probable - right hip soreness), and Khris Middleton (out - left ankle sprain).
TUESDAY’S TOP PERFORMANCES
Kelly Oubre Jr.
- In 30 minutes as a starter Tuesday at New York, Oubre Jr. posted a team-high 19 points (7-15 fg, 3-6 3fg, 2-4 ft) plus six rebounds and an assist.
Tyrese Maxey
- In his return to the lineup after missing four games with a concussion, Maxey played 28 minutes over the first three quarters against the Knicks and tallied 17 points (6-14 fg, 3-6 3fg, 2-2 ft), two rebounds, and four assists.
- Maxey scored 10 of Philadelphia’s season-low 14 points in the first quarter.
- Reed added 14 points (6-8 fg, 2-4 ft), a team-high eight rebounds, and two steals in 28 minutes off the bench.
QUOTE TO NOTE
Tyrese Maxey on going through the concussion protocol…
“It was a lot of different steps. Working out by myself, one-on-one, then being able to do
a full contact practice and had to run on the treadmill. It was difficult. It was my first time
having a concussion and I never knew what it felt like. It was a weird feeling, a very
weird feeling, but I’m glad I can be back out there with my guys.”
FOLLOW ALONG
Thursday’s game is set for 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local) in Milwaukee.
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Listen: 97.5 The Fanatic
UNIFORMS
The Sixers will wear their white Association Edition uniforms in Milwaukee, with the Bucks expected to sport their black Statement Edition uniforms.
@SIXERS SOCIAL