MILWAUKEE — The Philadelphia 76ers took another loss on Thursday without Joel Embiid: 114-105 to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Sixers have struggled mightily without the reigning league MVP, but Thursday was a step in the right direction.
The Sixers played fast and they forced a bunch of turnovers on their way to a 12-point lead. Philadelphia forced the Bucks into 10 turnovers in the first half, scoring 17 points off those turnovers while shooting 56.4% from the floor overall and 11-for-19 from deep. That allowed the Sixers to hold a 61-53 halftime lead.
Philadelphia forced only five turnovers in the second half as the Bucks buckled down, but that’s the way the Sixers have to play without Embiid. They have to play fast and get out in transition. They may have found their Embiid-less identity.
“I think we’re pretty close,” Tyrese Maxey said of finding an identity. “I mean, that game we played like 3 1/2 really good quarters. Down the stretch, I didn’t make a shot. We tried to get some stops and the ball didn’t bounce our way a couple of times, but I think we’re doing a good job. Coach (Nick) Nurse and them, they’re really implementing a good system from when the big fella’s out and I think the guys are really buying into it.”
Maxey, who had 30 points on the night, led the charge for Philadelphia. The Sixers rely so much on him with Embiid out and he has responded in a big way to get this team going on the right path.
As the Sixers continue to look to stay afloat until Embiid eventually returns, this fast-paced style is the way they will have to play in order to pick up some wins. Philadelphia will look to stop this two-game skid when it hosts the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday.
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