76ers

Short-Handed 76ers Can’t Keep Up With Bucks in Season Opener, Fall 124-109

The Philadelphia 76ers’ season opener was supposed to be a celebration—a chance for fans to see the debut of the new Big Three featuring Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey.

Instead, it felt more like a letdown, as both Embiid and George sat out with knee issues, leaving Maxey to carry a heavy load in a 124-109 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Final Score:

Milwaukee Bucks (1-0): 124
Philadelphia 76ers (0-1): 109

Top Performers:

  • Tyrese Maxey: 25 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST
  • Kelly Oubre Jr: 21 PTS, 8-18 FG)
  • Andre Drummond: 10 PTS, 13 REB, 4-8 FG

For Sixers fans hoping for a fresh start after last season’s playoff heartbreak, this wasn’t exactly the season opener they envisioned.

Tyrese Maxey, flanked by a starting unit of Eric Gordon, Kelly Oubre Jr., KJ Martin, and Andre Drummond, had to carry the load against a fully-loaded Bucks squad led by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.

Guerschon Yabusele headlines first quarter

Without their two main stars, the 76ers’ offense looked exactly like you’d expect—disjointed and clunky. Philly shot a dismal 4-of-15 midway through the first quarter as Maxey and Oubre were forced into isolation attempts, trying to play hero ball against Milwaukee’s length.

It wasn’t pretty, but the effort was there.

The Sixers managed to stay competitive by crashing the offensive glass, scoring six of their first 10 points off put-backs. Guerschon Yabusele provided a brief spark, knocking down a corner three and cutting to the rim for a layup, but the 76ers’ lack of offensive cohesion was clear.

Milwaukee was able to exploit Philadelphia’s inferior size down low as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis chipped in nine points apiece in the period to score 18 of the Bucks’ 22 points in the first quarter. 

Despite their struggles, Philly managed to edge out a 23-22 lead heading into the second quarter after Maxey crossed up AJ Green and scored in the paint to close the quarter.

Bucks Take Control in the Second Quarter

Things went downhill fast for the 76ers in the second quarter. After trading buckets early, Milwaukee’s depth and firepower proved too much, as they went on an 18-6 run to extend their lead to 58-47 by halftime.

With Embiid’s inside presence and George’s shot creation sorely missed, Maxey and Oubre had no choice but to attack off the dribble—often resulting in empty possessions and transition opportunities for the Bucks.

The shooting woes were painful to watch. The Sixers went just 20-of-55 (36.4%) from the field and 3-of-16 (18.8%) from beyond the arc in the first half.

Tyrese Maxey Halftime: 16 PTS – 4 REB – 1 AST – 1 BLK – 6/19 FG

Lillard and Giannis Take Over the Second Half

Nick Nurse made an adjustment to start the second half, inserting Caleb Martin into the lineup to try to contain Lillard and Giannis.

But the Bucks smelled blood, dropping 42 points in the third quarter alone. Giannis bulldozed through Caleb Martin and Andre Drummond for easy buckets, while Lillard cooked in the pick-and-roll, using Brook Lopez’s screens to get just enough separation for pull-up threes.

The Sixers’ defense couldn’t contain the Bucks’ dynamic duo, as Milwaukee built a 100-81 lead by the end of the third.

Antetokounmpo looked unstoppable, finishing one-on-one plays with ease, and when the Sixers tried to double him, he found shooters like Gary Trent Jr., who knocked down big shots to maintain the lead. Lillard, meanwhile, torched Philly’s perimeter defense, racking up 30 points by the start of the fourth quarter.

Late Push from Sixers’ Rookies Comes Up Short

The fourth quarter saw a brief surge from Philly as they went on an 11-3 run, trimming Milwaukee’s lead to 13.

The Sixers finally found some life in transition, scoring a few easy buckets to make things interesting. But it was too little, too late. The Bucks’ starters came back in to close the door, and both teams cleared the benches with a few minutes to spare.

If there was one silver lining, it was the debut of rookies Jared McCain and Adem Bona, who got their first NBA buckets.

McCain knocked down a mid-range jumper off a screen set by Bona, who then scored on a put-back after grabbing an offensive board. It wasn’t exactly the debut they imagined, but at least it was a bright spot in an otherwise tough night for Philly.

The Sixers start the season 0-1, and it doesn’t get any easier. They will now hit the road for a two-game swing starting with a matchup against the Toronto Raptors on Friday. The hope is to have at least one of Embiid or George back in the lineup, but both remain day-to-day.

Embiid will likely target his debut for next Wednesday at home against the Detroit Pistons.

Friday night in Toronto. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. EST, and Philly will be desperate to notch its first win of the season.

Join The Chase

Mandatory Credit: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)

Freshman journalism major at Temple University, NBA/76ers contributor for The Liberty Line, and owner of Sixercountry on Instagram, which has over 40,000 followers. I am aspiring to be a credentialed 76ers reporter and top NBA personality.

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