Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points, Damian Lillard added 24 points, and the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the 76ers 119-98 on Sunday in Doc Rivers’ return to Philadelphia.
Philadelphia — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points, Damian Lillard had 24, and the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the 76ers 119-98 on Sunday in Doc Rivers’ return to Philadelphia.
Philadelphia dismissed Rivers at the end of last season. He coached the 76ers from 2020 to 2023, never making it past the second round of the playoffs, and Sunday was his 12th game in Milwaukee.
During introductions, Rivers was met with a chorus of boos from the sellout crowd, but his squad swiftly silenced the fans with a blazing first quarter.
Lillard scored the Bucks’ first seven points and ended with 11 in the first, helping Milwaukee build a 14-point lead.
Antetokounmpo, who also had 12 rebounds and nine assists, concluded the first half with a bang, scoring a driving layup and then delivering a full-court pass to Brook Lopez for a slam as the horn rang, giving Milwaukee their highest lead of 21 points. Philadelphia never got within 12 points in the second half.
Antetokounmpo attempted more free throws (12) than the entire 76ers squad (11).
Milwaukee won their second straight game following the All-Star break, with Malik Beasley adding 20 points and Bobby Portis Jr. adding 17, after going 3-7 in Rivers’ first 10 games as coach.
Tyrese Maxey scored 24 points, while De’Anthony Melton added 16. The 76ers have lost eight of their last 12 games since losing reigning MVP Joel Embiid to a left knee injury in January.
