Sixers Finally Bring Down the Bucks

The cliche ‘basketball is a game of runs’ is thrown around far too often, but never was it more true than Wednesday night in Philadelphia.  After Thad Young scored 12 points in the first on 6-7 shooting to stake Philadelphia to an early lead, the Sixers used a 14-2 run early in the second quarter to build an 18-point advantage.  If you thought they would cruise to an easy victory from there, you haven’t watched the Sixers play this year.

The Bucks would regroup behind Monta Ellis and Larry Sanders to bring the deficit to just 6 at halftime, before a third quarter push saw Milwaukee actually take the lead by as many as 7 points.  However, unlike many games throughout this disappointing season, the Sixers had one more run in them.  A 15-0 streak in the fourth quarter, during which the Bucks turned the ball over 4 out of 5 possessions at one point, saw the Sixers take a final lead they would not relinquish, winning 100-92.

As is often the case when the Sixers play well, it was a balanced effort, with all 5 starters and 6 players in all scoring at least 13 points.  Spencer Hawes continued his recent resurgence, dropping 15 points and collecting a team-high 17 rebounds.  Damian Wilkins played well once again in a starting role, tying Jrue Holiday with a team-high 18 points, including a steal and breakaway dunk in the final minute to seal the victory for Philadelphia.

For Milwaukee, Brandon Jennings was held scoreless for the first time in his career and was benched in the second half; no explanation has yet been given for the benching.  In his wake, Monta Ellis had a huge performance, scoring a game-high 29 points and dishing out 7 assists.  Ellis ditched the long jumper early on and focused on getting to the rim, which proved an effective strategy against a Sixers team without an athletic shot blocker.  Unfortunately for the Bucks, he didn’t receive much help from the other leading scorers in Jennings, and J.J. Redick (who shot just 2-12).

The Sixers’ win denied Milwaukee its first season sweep of Philadelphia since the 1973-74 season.  With the loss, the Bucks dropped 2.5 games back of the 7th seed in the eastern conference.  Philadelphia might not have much to play for in terms of the standings at this point in the season, but I’m sure the crowd in attendance on Fan Appreciation Night appreciated the effort.  The team will hit the road again Friday to face a Kyrie-Irving-less Cleveland Cavaliers squad.