In their last game before the NBA All-Star break, the Milwaukee Bucks had the opportunity to go out on a high note as the Philadelphia 76ers visited town. Another top-notch Eastern Conference contender, the 76ers would be a good test for the Bucks, even as their newest addition – a former league-MVP in James Harden – sat out with nagging hamstring issues.
The Bucks appeared prepared for the opportunity as they led the 76ers early on, and it looked like they were ready to pull away in the second quarter. Yet, right when the Bucks built up a 12-point lead, everything went downhill from there. Philadelphia closed the first half on a monstrous run, having finished with 45 points in the period to turn this game around completely to lead by eight points at the half.
While the Bucks battled their way back into the game through an up-and-down second half, even taking the lead late in the game, it was not enough. The 76ers held on to defeat the Bucks with a final score of 123-120, sending the champs into the All-Star break with a brutal loss that should certainly sting. With all that being said, let us take a closer look at three takeaways from the game.
Khris Middleton’s horrific shooting slump continued as the forward clocked in one of his worst performances with the Milwaukee Bucks this season
It is no secret that Khris Middleton has been in a shooting slump for most of February, having his share of tough performances. Playing on the nationally-televised stage against a formidable foe, this was the perfect opportunity to snap out of this slump, but the forward had no such luck as he struggled for the Bucks all night long. Struggled might be putting it too lightly, as this was one of Middleton’s worst games of the season to this point.
Middleton could not buy a bucket consistently all night long, mainly from 3-point territory, where he shot a gruesome 2-of-12. Three of those misses came with under 32 seconds left to play, with the forward missing a trio of clutch triples that would have either tied the ball game or pulled the Bucks within one point. Some will question why Middleton was getting those looks when he was having such a poor night shooting the basketball, but this team has deferred to him in these clutch situations time and time again, so it was no surprise to see them stick with it.
Being plagued largely by his poor 3-point shooting, Middleton finished with 19 points on an ugly 6-for-20 shooting from the floor. In what has regularly been the case this month, Middleton just outright failed to look like the version of himself that was selected to represent the Bucks in the All-Star Game this weekend. He was missing shots he would typically bury with ease, getting lost on the defensive end, and turning the basketball over in crucial moments. Hopefully the break can do him some good, as the Bucks will need the three-time All-Star version of Khris Middleton upon returning to the court next week.
The Milwaukee Bucks endured the ever-turbulent Jordan Nwora experience in full throughout last night’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers
With Grayson Allen sidelined due to hip soreness and the Bucks missing a handful of other crucial pieces, Jordan Nwora earned the starting nod last night. The forward has typically been scorching hot or freezing cold during his playing time this season, and the Bucks needed him to play his best basketball if they were to stand a chance against the 76ers.
To his credit, Nwora started the game off well by getting a few shots to fall. He even led the team in scoring following the first quarter with a quick seven points. Although Nwora continued to play well, some of his biggest flaws were still sprinkled in throughout his performance. Once Nowra hit a shot, he started hunting for more shots, several of which were poor decisions. His lackluster play defensively was also on display, as there were several instances where he looked lost on the floor. That pretty much sums up the Jordan Nwora experience right there. He will do some things rather well, such as knock down several tough shots, but then he will equally make just as many, if not more, questionable decisions the next few trips up the floor.
Despite the roller coaster ride that Nwora took Bucks fans on during his 35 minutes, he finished with a respectable line of 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-7 from three. He played better than Middleton, having given the Bucks a much-needed boost on the offensive end while their All-Star forward struggled. There were some great moments, but then there were several gloomy moments on display throughout Nwora’s time. Despite some frustrating moments, he provided the spark that the Bucks needed with so many injuries to typical rotational players.
MVP candidates Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid battled it out, but the latter won the matchup as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Milwaukee Bucks
The biggest storyline leading up to this matchup was the MVP candidates set to hit the floor with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid set to square off. Both have led their respective teams to reputable records in the Eastern Conference this season, and winning this game could boost their individual stock in the current MVP race across the league. Unfortunately, Embiid and the 76ers got the better of Antetokounmpo and the Bucks.
That is not to say Antetokounmpo played badly, as he nearly tallied a triple-double with 32 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists. Offensively, it was an efficient shooting night as the Greek Freak hit 13-of-23 from the floor, including 2-of-4 from deep to keep this one competitive throughout. Nine assists is also a welcoming number, but had some of his teammates knocked down the wide-open looks they had gotten courtesy of Antetokounmpo, that number may have legitimately doubled. It was a solid night defensively for Antetokounmpo as well, as he snatched three steals and blocked a single shot, but it was not enough to get the win.
On the other side, Embiid had another quality performance in what has been a tremendous season for him. The big man put up 42 points on 14-of-21 shooting, including 3-of-4 from deep. It did not matter how many bodies the Bucks put on Embiid, he just continued to find a way to score the ball again and again from start to finish. The Bucks undoubtedly missed Brook Lopez in this one, as the former All-Defensive honoree could have been useful in slowing Embiid down. Along with his huge scoring numbers, Embiid tallied 14 rebounds, five assists, and a steal to secure the win. This game might have put Embiid atop the current MVP race if he was not already there.
Although it is a sour way to enter the All-Star break, the Bucks will finally get some much-needed time off to allow them to recover following this game. Hopefully Milwaukee can get back some of their regular rotation players the next time they take the court.
The Bucks will be back in action next when they take on the Brooklyn Nets Saturday, February 26 at 7:30 p.m. CST. Be sure to catch the action on ABC.