Sixers Make Things Interesting, But Fall To Bucks In OT
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Khris Middleton scored 36 points and John Henson had 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 109-108 overtime win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.
Jabari Parker added 15 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo had 14 to help the Bucks hold off the Sixers in OT.
Ish Smith hit a 3 and Hollis Thompson buried a 26-footer that pulled the Sixers to 109-108. The Sixers would miss three shots on their final possession.
Smith led the Sixers with 22 points and Nerlens Noel had 18 points and 13 rebounds.
The Sixers made only 13 of their franchise-record 46 3-point attempts.
The Bucks wasted an 18-point lead in regulation and failed to put the game away in the fourth quarter against the worst team in the NBA.
Robert Covington's driving layup pulled the Sixers within two at 92-90 with 5:44 left and gave the enthusiastic crowd of 16,627 at the home finale a rare reason for optimism. Smith found Noel inside the paint for a bucket that kept it a two-point game, 94-92.
Smith finally tied it for the first time with a layup with 2:20 left.
Sixers fans stood and waved their arms as the in-house DJ cranked tunes and shirts were fired into the crowd.
Smith had a bigger bucket ahead, this one a dunk that put Philadelphia up 98-96, its first lead of the game.
But the lead was short-lived when a goaltending call against Noel tied it at 98 and sent the game into overtime.
TIP-INS
Bucks: The Bucks beat the Sixers for the ninth straight time, their longest active winning streak against any opponent. ... Milwaukee snapped a three-game losing streak.
Sixers: The Sixers finished 7-34 at home. ... Former Philadelphia 76ers great Allen Iverson was presented with a City of Philadelphia Honorary Resolution for being elected to the Hall of Fame class of 2016. ... TheSixers also honored the NCAA national champion Villanova Wildcats. ... Noel turned 22.
UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
The Sixers hired Bryan Colangelo as team president. The Sixers also announced Sunday that his father, Jerry Colangelo, has relinquished his role as chairman of basketball operations and will remain as special adviser to ownership. Bryan Colangelo takes over days after Sam Hinkie quit as general manager via a 13-page manifesto to ownership. He previously worked for the Toronto Raptors and Phoenix Suns.
CRAWFORD HONORED:
The Sixers honored Philadelphia native Joey Crawford for his nearly four decades as an NBA official. Crawford officiated more than 2,500 games in the regular season and another 344 in the playoffs. He has worked more postseason and NBA Finals games than any current official.
UP NEXT
Bucks: at Orlando on Monday.
Sixers: at Toronto on Tuesday.
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