Philly's in trouble without JoJo: Bucks dominate short-handed Sixers, Suns edge out Clippers
Reading Time: 4min | Thu. 24.10.24. | 10:03
The Philadelphia crew came to Wisconsin without their biggest stars - Joel Embiid and newly signed Paul George
Damian Lillard scored 30 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed 25 as the Milwaukee Bucks cruised to a 124-109 victory over a depleted Philadelphia 76ers squad in the NBA season opener for both teams on Wednesday.
Missing Joel Embiid and recent acquisition Paul George, the Sixers struggled to keep pace with a well-balanced Bucks team. Taurean Prince chipped in 16 points, while Bobby Portis added 16 off the bench to round out Milwaukee's scoring efforts.
Embiid, who recently helped the U.S. secure Olympic gold in Paris, sat out the pre-season to manage his surgically repaired left knee. Philadelphia announced on Tuesday that he will be sidelined for the first week of the regular season. Meanwhile, George's much-anticipated Philadelphia debut was delayed due to a pre-season bone bruise in his left knee.
Tyrese Maxey led a strong start for Philadelphia, with an aggressive offensive rebound effort giving the Sixers a one-point lead after the first quarter. However, Lillard and the Bucks soon found their rhythm. Lillard's three-pointer midway through the second quarter gave Milwaukee a 36-33 edge, and his driving layup extended the lead to 58-45 just before halftime. The Bucks went into the break leading 58-47 and never looked back, stretching their advantage to 22 points in the second half.
Antetokounmpo, the two-time MVP, showed no signs of knee trouble, finishing with 14 rebounds and seven assists.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, Kevin Durant scored 25 points as the Phoenix Suns overcame the Los Angeles Clippers 116-113 in an overtime thriller. The game marked the Clippers' first regular-season clash in their brand-new Intuit Dome arena, but the celebratory atmosphere was dampened by Phoenix's late-game heroics.
James Harden, the Clippers' star, had a chance to send the game to a second overtime but missed a crucial free throw with just four seconds left, allowing the Suns to secure a narrow victory.
“This is just one game - we want to keep building,” Durant told ESPN after the win. “We’ve got a system we can rely on for four quarters.”
In Atlanta, French rookie and No. 1 overall draft pick Zaccharie Risacher made a promising debut in the Hawks' 120-116 win against the Brooklyn Nets. The 19-year-old came off the bench in the first quarter and hit a three-pointer on his first shot attempt. He finished the night with seven points, while Trae Young led the Hawks with 30 points and 12 assists. Onyeka Okongwu had a standout performance with a career-high 28 points off the bench.
Despite a valiant 36-point effort from Cam Thomas, it was a loss for Brooklyn’s new coach, Spain’s Jordi Fernandez, in his first game leading an NBA team.
The Detroit Pistons saw a familiar storyline unfold as they surrendered an eight-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, allowing the Indiana Pacers to rally for a 115-109 victory. Myles Turner scored 20 points for Indiana, while Bennedict Mathurin contributed 14 of his 19 points during the decisive final period. The Pacers outscored the Pistons 33-19 in the fourth, sealing the comeback win.
Mathurin's return was a triumphant one, marking his first regular-season game since undergoing shoulder surgery last March. “Being away for seven months makes you appreciate the game even more,” he said. “I’m thrilled we got the win tonight.”
Detroit, coming off a league-worst 14-68 season, suffered another setback in new coach J.B. Bickerstaff's debut.
“Our guys fought hard out there,” Bickerstaff said, despite the disappointing result.
Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors made a statement in Portland as they kicked off the post-Klay Thompson era with a commanding 139-104 win over the Trail Blazers. Buddy Hield led the scoring for Golden State with 22 points off the bench, while Steph Curry added 17, demonstrating the team's depth and adaptability as they look ahead to a new chapter without one of their core stars.
NBA RESULTS
Detroit Pistons 109 - Indiana Pacers 115
Atlanta Hawks 120 - Brooklyn Nets 116
Miami Heat 97 - Orlando Magic 116
Philadelphia 76ers 109 - Milwaukee Bucks 124
Toronto Raptors 106 - Cleveland Cavaliers 136
Houston Rockets 105 - Charlotte Hornets 110
New Orleans Pelicans 123 - Chicago Bulls 111
Utah Jazz 124 - Memphis Grizzlies 126
Los Angeles Clippers 113 - Phoenix Suns 116 AOT
Portland Trail Blazers 104 - Golden State Warriors 139
