76ers use strong fourth quarter to escape Bucks

When the 76ers needed multiple players to come up clutch, they did.

Joel Embiid led the way with 28 points and a triple-double in the Sixers’ 127-116 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Jaylen Brown was right there as well with 27 points, and Tyrese Maxey joined the group with 26 of his own. VJ Edgecombe also highly impacted the game with 13 rebounds that helped the Sixers stay unbeaten.

The Sixers entered this game with LeBron James out resting in the first leg of the back-to-back and Dean Wade getting the start as he cleared the injured list. James’ absence did not seem to slow them down as they started the game on a 7-0 run led by Edgecombe, Wade, and Embiid. Edgecombe led the way with three three-pointers in the first quarter, which set the tone and gave the Sixers an early lead and advantage despite the Bucks showing competitiveness.

The Sixers and Bucks were neck and neck all of the first half, with the Sixers yet to make their offensive breakthrough. Despite getting outrebounded in the first half, the Sixers still had the lead 64-60 at halftime.

Both the Sixers and the Bucks went into the locker room in a tight game with the climax nearing in South Philadelphia. The Sixers’ biggest issue in the first half was defensive rebounding, as the Bucks had over eight offensive rebounds in the first half.

The Sixers and Bucks continued to go back and forth, but the Sixers did go on a 6-0 run midway through the third quarter. However, the third quarter was very similar to the first half, with both teams going back and forth.

Near the end of the third quarter, Jabari Walker went to the locker room with an injury, forcing Adem Bona to enter the game. Walker’s performance was very solid, which put pressure on Bona to crash the boards in this neck-and-neck game.

Then came the turning point. Since Walker’s injury, the Sixers took a ten-point lead to make the score 97-87 at the end of the third quarter.

The Sixers carried that momentum into the fourth quarter as they started shooting the ball better and even built a fourteen-point lead to make the score 108-94.

The Bucks did not go away quietly, though, as they cut the lead to eight, making the score 1116-108 thanks to a big three-pointer from Kel’el Ware. The Bucks put themselves in an opportunity to potentially come back and beat what might be the best team in the Eastern Conference.

The Bucks cut the lead down to three, making the score 117-114 with under two minutes to play. But the Sixers responded as Brown drilled a big three from the right wing to extend the lead to six, making the score 1120-114 with under 1:30 left in the game.

Any hope for the Bucks instantly faded from Brown’s three-pointer, followed by another three-pointer from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, making the score 123-114 and putting the game out of reach for the Bucks.

The Bucks had some big moments, but shots falling and a higher defensive effort late in the fourth quarter ultimately led to the Sixers winning 127-116.

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