Giannis Antetokounmpo had 31 points and 16 rebounds to lift the Milwaukee Bucks past the host Philadelphia 76ers 118-109 on Tuesday.
Grayson Allen added 25 points and Bobby Portis contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Bucks, who snapped a two-game losing streak.
The Bucks were missing Khris Middleton (COVID-19), Brook Lopez (back) and Donte DiVincenzo (ankle).
Tyrese Maxey led the depleted Sixers with 31 points while Georges Niang added 21 and Shake Milton 20. Andre Drummond compiled his second double-double in as many nights with 17 points and 20 rebounds.
The Sixers have dropped two in a row.
The Sixers played without Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle and Isaiah Joe for health and safety protocols along with Seth Curry (foot) and Ben Simmons (personal reasons).
The Bucks erased a 13-point deficit and went ahead 56-54 when Allen dropped in a deep 3-pointer with 2:12 left in the second quarter.
Milwaukee led 61-58 at halftime thanks in large part to Allen’s 13 points.
Maxey scored 19 in the first half with 17 coming in the first quarter.
Niang hit a trey, Maxey followed with a driving layup and the Sixers trailed 71-70 with 7:41 remaining in the third.
Antetokounmpo began to take over with some aggressive moves to the basket and the Bucks pulled out to an 82-74 advantage with 4:24 to go.
The Sixers held a 93-91 advantage at the end of the third.
When Antetokounmpo drove to the basket and threw down a one-handed dunk, the Bucks led 99-96 with 8:16 remaining. The sequence began on the defensive end as Antetokounmpo blocked Milton’s shot to ignite the fast break.
Maxey missed a jumper to potentially tie the game and Pat Connaughton responded with a 3-pointer to put the Bucks ahead 107-102 with 3:53 remaining.
Allen’s clutch trey from the corner with 1:30 left propelled the Bucks to a 114-107 advantage before they pulled away for the hard-fought win.
–Field Level Media
