PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Paul George led the Philadelphia 76ers with 32 points, while Joel Embiid contributed 29 points, including 18 in the first quarter, as Philadelphia defeated a depleted Milwaukee Bucks squad 139-122 on Tuesday night. Tyrese Maxey also chipped in 22 points for the 76ers, who had suffered a heavy loss to Charlotte the previous night without Embiid and George.
Myles Turner led Milwaukee with 31 points in a game that marked the Bucks’ third loss in seven outings. The team was missing two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who will remain sidelined indefinitely due to a strained right calf. Additionally, Kevin Porter Jr. and Taurean Prince were out with injuries for the Bucks, while Philadelphia was without Quentin Grimes.
Early in the fourth quarter, George sank back-to-back three-pointers, helping the 76ers build an 11-point lead after holding an 18-point advantage at the start of the period. Notably, the Sixers had been crushed 130-93 by the Hornets just the day before. Due to winter weather, that game had been rescheduled to a 3 p.m. ET tipoff, causing the Sixers to return to Philadelphia after 1 a.m. Tuesday.
The return of Embiid and George, who had missed Monday’s game for injury management, energized Philadelphia’s squad. A highlight came when Maxey assisted Embiid on an alley-oop dunk late in the first half, a moment celebrated with smiles shared with Bucks coach Doc Rivers, who formerly coached the 76ers for three seasons.
George was efficient overall, making 11 of 21 shots, including 9 of 15 from beyond the arc. Embiid also contributed nine rebounds and five assists. Supporting the Bucks, Ryan Rollins tallied 24 points, Bobby Portis added 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Kyle Kuzma scored 17 points.
Looking ahead, the Bucks will face Washington on Thursday, while the 76ers will host Sacramento the same evening.
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For basketball fans, this game highlights the significant impact star players have on their teams’ performances, especially when battling injuries. It also underscores how depth and resilience can shape the course of a season, making every matchup unpredictable and exciting.
