The Philadelphia 76ers improved to 3-0 with a 127-116 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, October 24, at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Joel Embiid recorded a triple-double with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, while Jaylen Brown scored 27 points on his 30th birthday and Tyrese Maxey added 26.
VJ Edgecombe contributed 17 points as Philadelphia secured its third consecutive victory despite playing without LeBron James, who was ruled out with lower back pain management. James was expected to return Sunday against the Detroit Pistons after averaging 15.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in his first two games with the Sixers.
Milwaukee remained winless at 0-3 despite four players scoring at least 15 points. Jaime Jaquez Jr. led the Bucks with 21 points, while Kyle Kuzma recorded 14 points and 12 rebounds. Kel’el Ware added 19 points and 13 rebounds off the bench.
Philadelphia led 34-25 after the first quarter and maintained its advantage throughout the game. The Sixers extended their lead to 10 points by the end of the third quarter, with Maxey hitting a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer. He also connected on a 46-foot shot to end the opening period.
The Bucks threatened late, but Brown converted a three-pointer off an Embiid pass to make it 120-114, securing Embiid’s triple-double in the process. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope then hit a three-pointer following a Milwaukee turnover to extend the lead to nine points and end the visitors’ comeback hopes.
Brown finished 9-of-19 from the field, including three three-pointers, and made all six of his free throws. Embiid went 12-of-14 from the line, helping Philadelphia compensate for shooting 40.8% from the field. The Sixers also made 19 three-pointers on 44 attempts.
Philadelphia’s win followed its comeback from a 29-point deficit against Cleveland on Thursday, when the Sixers overcame a large early disadvantage to win 114-106. Dean Wade, who missed the first two games with an ankle injury, made his season debut against Milwaukee and scored seven points.
The Bucks will host the Indiana Pacers on Monday, October 26, while Philadelphia will welcome Detroit on Sunday, October 25.
