Joel Embiid delivered a commanding performance in the absence of LeBron James, recording a triple-double to guide the Philadelphia 76ers to a 127-116 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night. James, who was ruled out due to lower back pain management, missed his third game in a row, but the Sixers remained undefeated with a dominant display of offensive efficiency. Embiid finished with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, shooting an impressive 12-for-14 from the free-throw line, while Tyrese Maxey contributed 26 points and VJ Edgecombe added 17 to support the All-Star center.
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The game’s momentum shifted decisively in the fourth quarter when Jaylen Brown, celebrating his 30th birthday, scored 27 points to secure the win. Brown hit a crucial three-pointer off an Embiid assist to extend the lead to 120-114, a moment that also secured Embiid’s triple-double. The 76ers sealed the deal when Kentavious Caldwell-Pope drained a three-pointer off a Milwaukee turnover, creating a nine-point cushion that extinguished the Bucks’ final rally. The crowd erupted as the defense locked down, preventing Milwaukee from mounting a successful comeback despite a late push.
For the Bucks, the loss extends their season-opening skid to 0-3, with Kyle Kuzma providing a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds. Jamie Jacquez Jr. led Milwaukee in scoring with 21 points, but the team struggled to contain the Sixers’ perimeter shooting. Coach Nick Nurse noted that James did not report any discomfort prior to the game, and the veteran is expected to return Sunday against Detroit. With James averaging 15.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in his first two games, the Sixers’ ability to maintain their undefeated record without him signals a resilient team structure capable of handling star absences.
Source: Yahoo Sports
