Damian Lillard scored 30 points, and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 25 as the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 124-109 in their season opener on Wednesday night.
Lillard’s six three-pointers were crucial, with 15 of his points coming in a dominant third quarter. He also contributed nine rebounds and five assists.
Antetokounmpo shot 8-for-11 from the field and led the game in rebounds with 14, adding seven assists to his stat line.
The Bucks had six players in double figures, including Taurean Prince and Bobby Portis, who scored 16 points each. Milwaukee also made 16 three-pointers, highlighting their deep offensive arsenal.
Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 25 points, while Andre Drummond posted a double-double, scoring 13 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Philadelphia was without injured stars Joel Embiid and Paul George, both sidelined with knee injuries.
Guerschon Yabusele, playing his first NBA game since 2019, provided a spark off the bench for the 76ers with 10 points, four rebounds, and three steals in 25 minutes.
The Bucks ran frequent pick-and-roll plays, particularly between Lillard and Brook Lopez. Many of these picks were set beyond the three-point line, giving Lillard the room to create and make plays.
For Philadelphia, the absence of Embiid and George was noticeable, as their offense struggled without its star players. Maxey shouldered much of the scoring load, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Milwaukee’s balanced attack.
Philadelphia’s perimeter shooting woes were also evident. The 76ers shot just 25.8% from beyond the arc, making only 8-of-31 attempts. The Bucks, in contrast, shot 43.2% from three-point range.
Milwaukee’s defense was solid throughout, holding the 76ers to 41.8% shooting from the field and forcing 10 turnovers. The Bucks also controlled the boards, outrebounding Philadelphia 46-41.
The Bucks’ ability to share the ball was another highlight, as they finished the game with 27 assists compared to Philadelphia’s 18. Milwaukee’s ball movement and spacing allowed them to generate quality shots, especially from beyond the arc.
Milwaukee next faces the Chicago Bulls, while the 76ers will seek to regroup against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
