Sixers Player Grades: Sixers Defeat The Bucks, 127-116
Player Grades
Joel Embiid
36 min, 28 pts (8-20 FG, 0-3 3P, 12-14 FT), 11 reb, 10 ast, 4 TO, 1 stl, +18
Triple-double on the night (28-11-10) and he ran the show early as the main hub. Good decisions, moved well, and closed the game with key assists plus that late dunk. He always seems to feast when Myles Turner is across from him and tonight was no different.
Tyrese Maxey
36 min, 26 pts (9-22 FG, 4-9 3P, 4-4 FT), 4 reb, 4 ast, 3 TO, +13
Solid 26-point night with timely threes and those two big end-of-quarter makes (the half-court heave and the elbow jumper). Kept the pace high and still found teammates even when the Bucks made their late push. Never really had an off stretch.
Jaylen Brown
35 min, 27 pts (9-19 FG, 3-6 3P, 6-6 FT), 3 reb, 5 ast, 3 TO, 3 stl, +24
On his 30th birthday he was locked in from the jump. Smooth scoring, strong playmaking, and he stayed active on defense with a few steals. Without LeBron available he took on more creation and just kept the offense flowing through mid-range, threes, and the free-throw line.
VJ Edgecombe
30 min, 17 pts (5-13 FG, 5-10 3P, 2-2 FT), 13 reb, 2 ast, 0 TO, 1 stl, 2 blk, -11
This was a real solid two-way performance. He was able to hit multiple early threes. The defensive energy stood out all night and contested hard, and made the hustle plays late that helped close the door after Milwaukee cut it to three. Exactly the kind of motor and defensive presence you want from him.
Dean Wade
28 min, 7 pts (2-3 FG, 2-3 3P, 1-3 FT), 2 reb, 0 ast, 0 TO, 3 stl, 1 blk, 0
Clean Sixers debut starting in LeBron’s spot. Opened the scoring with a corner three, stayed active defensively with steals and a block, and just filled the 3-and-D role without mistakes. Solid first outing.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
28 min, 12 pts (4-8 FG, 4-6 3P, 0-0 FT), 2 reb, 1 ast, 0 TO, 3 stl, +24
Quietly did his job. Couple of timely threes (including the dagger in the fourth) and three first-half steals that disrupted their flow. Classic 3-and-D night that stabilized things after the second-quarter dip.
Anfernee Simons
20 min, 4 pts (1-7 FG, 1-5 3P, 1-2 FT), 1 reb, 2 ast, 1 TO, 1 stl, -13
Couldn’t find much rhythm offensively and the shot wasn’t falling, but he still tried to create a little and stayed engaged on the other end. Part of that rough second-unit stretch early in the second quarter before the stars took over.
Jabari Walker
12 min, 6 pts (2-3 FG, 0-0 3P, 2-3 FT), 3 reb, 1 ast, 0 TO, 1 stl, +3
Efficient in limited minutes. Hit a couple shots, grabbed boards, and had that useful and-one stretch that helped the Sixers regain the lead late in the second. Did what was asked. Hopefully, his injury is not severe.
Adem Bona
10 min, 0 pts (0-2 FG, 0-1 3P, 0-0 FT), 1 reb, 1 ast, 0 TO, 1 stl, -4
Another tough night. Showed some defensive effort and came up with a steal, but the production wasn’t there and he was part of that stagnant stretch when the Bucks briefly took the lead.
Labaron Philon Jr.
4 min, 0 pts (0-1 FG, 0-1 3P, 0-0 FT), 0 reb, 0 ast, 0 TO, +1
Short NBA debut. Looked like he belonged with the ball in his hands but missed his only shot and got blown by a couple times on defense.