Entering Thursday’s matchup on a two-game losing skid, the Milwaukee Bucks desperately needed to get back in the win column against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Bucks handled things accordingly by taking down the 76ers 124-117 in one of the team’s most impressive wins of the season, even as Philadelphia was without All-Star forward Ben Simmons. Still, given how inconsistent the Bucks have played this season, particularly against the top-heavy teams, it was nice to see them build up a lead as big as 21 on the night.
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A massive factor in Milwaukee’s success throughout this contest was their prolific shooting from behind the arc. Knocking down 20 triples in 40 attempts, the Bucks torched the 76ers with some red hot shooting.
Facing off against the current top seed in the Eastern Conference and arguably the frontrunner for league MVP in Joel Embiid, this was pegged as a measuring stick game for the Bucks, and they certainly showed up ready to play.
Following the win, they are now just two-and-a-half games behind both Philadelphia and Brooklyn for that top spot in the standings, a goal that undoubtedly remains attainable with the regular season nearing an end. With a rematch scheduled for Saturday, the Bucks will have another opportunity to inch closer to that top seed.
For now, here are three takeaways from last night’s win at Fiserv Forum.
The Milwaukee Bucks get a big lift from Bobby Portis off the bench in win over 76ers
Bobby Portis has consistently been a contributor off Milwaukee’s bench this season, but he turned the intensity up a notch in a game that felt like a playoff environment.
In 22-and-a half minutes last night, Portis was a dominant force on the offensive end by lighting the 76ers up for a season-high 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting. That included knocking down all five of his attempts from behind the arc as he continues enjoying the best 3-point shooting season of his career at 48.5 percent. Defensively, Portis has been known to struggle defensively this season, but the big man made his presence felt by tallying three blocks and a steal on the evening.
It was a fantastic sight to see Portis step up, particularly as Milwaukee’s bench has been known to falter in big-time matchups this season. He was not alone as Pat Connaughton continued his recent hot streak by chipping in 10 points while Bryn Forbes chimed in nine himself. Still, Portis unquestionably stole the show as he consistently kept the offense clicking with a barrage of shots from long distance.
Although he has been solid all season, this latest performance just reaffirms that sizable impact Portis can have in the Bucks’ second unit when the shot is falling, and he is staying active defensively. As evidenced by this stellar performance, he could be a difference-maker in big matchups down the road.