By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Giannis Antetokounmpo finished the game almost with a triple-double (30 p. 12 r. 9 as.), Damian Lillard set the tone early and ended up having 24 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, as the Bucks got an easy 119-98 road win against the Sixers.
Playing without Joel Embiid, the home team couldn’t keep up with the Bucks despite getting 24 points by Tyrese Maxey.
The Bucks led even by 25 points, the had a 35-21 advantage after the first quarter and an impressive baseball pass of Giannis to Brook Lopez and they never felt under real pressure.
Other than the Greek Freak, Italian Danilo Gallinari added three assists for the winning side and Thanasis Antetokounmpo had two points.
However, it was all about defense as coach Doc Rivers said: “This is how we have to play defense. Switching and sending everyone to Giannis and Brook Lopez”.
As for his return to Philadelphia, Rivers added: “I have made some good friends here, I spend three great years and some of the comments I got from the fans tonight were hilarious”.
For the Sixers, French national team captain Nicolas Batum was a starter and finished the night with six points and one rebound. The Bucks with a 37-21 record remain third in the East, while the Sixers are at 33-24 in the fifth spot of the standings.