Joel Embiid recorded his 10th career triple-double to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 127-116 home win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday. The 76ers stayed unbeaten at 3-0 on the young season, and they did it without LeBron James, who was rested for the game.
Embiid finished with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for Philadelphia. Jaylen Brown scored 27 points on his 30th birthday, and Tyrese Maxey added 26 points in a win that underlined the depth of this 76ers side.
The Bucks fell to 0-3 despite eight players scoring in double figures. Jaime Jaquez Jr. led Milwaukee with 21 points, while Kel’el Ware had 19 points and 13 rebounds for the visitors.
A third quarter surge
Philadelphia started fast, knocking down five three pointers in the first quarter, three of them from VJ Edgecombe, on the way to a 34-25 lead after 12 minutes. The 76ers then struggled to find a rhythm in the second quarter, shooting only 33.3 percent from the field, and Brown led all scorers with 16 points in the first half.
The teams were tied at 82-82 with four minutes left in the third quarter. Philadelphia then ended the period on a 15-5 push, with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Maxey each making a three pointer during the surge. Maxey capped it with a tough fadeaway as the quarter wound down, and the 76ers took control of the game.
Philadelphia started to pull away early in the fourth quarter. Embiid’s jumper gave the hosts a 113-98 lead with about six minutes left, and the home crowd sensed that the win was close.
Milwaukee refused to go away. The Bucks still trailed by nine with 3:18 to go, and then they rattled off six points in just over a minute to make it a three point game. The arena grew tense, but Philadelphia had an answer.
Edgecombe came up with a big offensive rebound on the other end, leading to a three pointer by Brown. Then, on the next Philadelphia possession, Brown found Caldwell-Pope for a three pointer that essentially sealed the outcome.
The triple-double moment
Brown’s three pointer off a pass from Embiid made it 120-114, and it gave the All Star centre his triple-double. Embiid went 12 of 14 from the free throw line on the night, and he controlled the game at both ends of the floor.
Edgecombe finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds, making five three pointers in an impressive all round performance. Kyle Kuzma had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the winless Bucks, who kept fighting even as the game slipped away from them.
James was officially ruled out with lower back pain management in the first of back to back games for the 76ers this weekend. The 41 year old averaged 15.5 points and 9.5 rebounds over his first two games with Philadelphia.
Coach Nick Nurse said before the game that James had not expressed any pain or discomfort with his back. James was expected to play on Sunday night at home against Detroit, while Embiid will rest in the second half of the back to back.
A perfect start, built on depth
The win keeps Philadelphia perfect through three games, and it is the latest sign that this team has serious championship ambitions. The 76ers rallied from 29 points down to beat Cleveland on Thursday, which marked the biggest comeback win for any of James’s teams over his NBA record 24th season.
James was first off the bench to celebrate with Maxey after the All Star guard hit a fadeaway jumper to end the third quarter and put the 76ers up by ten. Maxey also buried a 46 footer to end the first quarter and jump start yet another win for a 76ers team that keeps finding different heroes.
The Joel Embiid triple-double was the headline, but the supporting cast told the story of the night. Five different 76ers finished in double figures, and the team won a game in which its biggest star sat out entirely.
Milwaukee, meanwhile, is still searching for its first win. The Bucks have talent across the roster, and eight players reached double figures on Saturday, but they have now lost three in a row to start the season.
Philadelphia will look to keep the perfect start going on Sunday against Detroit, even with Embiid resting. If the first three games are any guide, the 76ers have enough depth to cope, and the early season form has already made them one of the teams to watch.
