The Philadelphia 76ers ended the fabulous 16-game winning streak of the Bucks in an intense game in Milwaukee that seemed dominated by the locals and in which the junior players ended up playing a decisive role (130-133).
The Bucks (45-18), leading the Eastern Conference, succumbed in the outcome to the Sixers (41-22) who had lost three of their previous four games but were able to turn the score around in the final minutes after going almost everything the meeting from behind.
James Harden (38 points, 9 rebounds and 10 assists) and Joel Embiid (31 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists) shone in this important victory for the Sixers, in which Tyrese Maxey (26 points) and Georges Niang (16 points) also stood out. points).
In the Bucks, who fell flat at the end, Giannis Antetokounmpo (34 points and 13 rebounds) led a group of four players over 20 points: Jrue Holiday (26 points and 13 assists), Brook López (26 points and 6 rebounds ) and Grayson Allen (20 points, all in a terrific third quarter).
Embiid scored the first 5 points for his team in the first minute and a half of an initial quarter that started very fast, even and with several lead exchanges. A triple by De’Anthony Melton coming off the bench again leveled the game at 27 with just over a minute to go in the first set which, after free throws by Antetokounmpo and Maxey, ended tied 29-29.
The Bucks benchmark opened the second set of “alley-oop” assisted by Khris Middleton and the locals began to open up. However, both teams’ defenses began to close down and points became more difficult to come by.
Embiid and Harden responded midway through the second quarter by driving several plays from Maxey that briefly put the Sixers ahead. A triple by Holiday and another by Lopez, after humiliating Embiid with a shot, once again led the locals, who landed at halftime with 59-53 in their favor. Holiday and Harden, with 15 points per head, were the most prominent in the first half.
With Embiid missing on the shots, Harden and Maxey tried to muffle the Bucks’ push. But a stratospheric Allen made the fourth of his life in Milwaukee with 20 points in the third quarter, including a fantastic 6 of 7 3-pointers, to defend and increase the Bucks’ lead in a quarter that ended 99-85.
Everything seemed up for the locals but two consecutive triples by Niang early in the final quarter gave hope to the visitors. Harden also returned to the charge and the Sixers were placed stalking the Bucks with a lot of time ahead (101-100 with 9.07 left to play after a 2-15 run).
Embiid and Harden gritted their teeth against Lopez and Antetokounmpo and, with 3:30 remaining, the game was still open (116-114). In the final stretch, the cold blood of those from Philadelphia stood out. A triple by Harden and another by Embiid put the visitors ahead on the scoreboard with 42 seconds remaining (125-127) and two free throws by Maxey increased the difference 7 seconds later (125-129). The Bucks tried desperately, but free throws from Harden and Embiid sealed a great comeback for the Sixers.
