Milwaukee Bucks vs. 76ers at a glance
Milwaukee is a 5 ½-point favorite over the Sixers heading into Saturday's game.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. 76ers at a glance
TEAMS: Bucks (40-39) vs. Sixers (28-51)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Wells Fargo Center
BROADCASTS: TV – CSN RADIO – 97.5 FM
SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE: TWITTER – @PompeyOnSixers, INSTAGRAM – PompeyOnSixers
411 ON BUCKS: Milwaukee is one game out of the fifth place in Eastern Conference playoff spot with three games left in the regular season.
The sixth-place Bucks are coming off three straight losses and in desperate need of a victory.
Milwaukee has one of the league's best young talents in Giannis Antetokounmpo. The all-star is also one of the NBA most exciting players.
He's ranked sixth in the league in blocked shots with 1.90 per game and tied for 11th in steals at 1.64.
PROBABLE STARTERS
BUCKS (40-39)
22 Khris Middleton SF 6-8 14.9 ppg. 3.4 apg.
34 Giannis Antetokounmpo PF 6-11 23.1 ppg. 8.7 rpg.
7 Thon Maker C 7-1 3.9 ppg. 1.8 rpg.
21 Tony Snell SG 6-7 8.5 ppg. 3.2 rpg.
13 Matt Dellavedova PG 6-4 7.5 ppg. 4.8 apg.
Coach: Jason Kidd (Fourth season, 158-167)
Injury report: Malcolm Brogdon (Back soreness, out); John Henson (Left thumb strain, out); Jabari Parker (post surgery left knee, out)
SIXERS (28-51)
23 Justin Anderson SF 6-6 6.7 ppg. 3.3 rpg.
9 Dario Saric PF 6-10 12.9 ppg. 6.3 rpg.
22 Richaun Holmes C 6-10 9.4 ppg. 5.2 rpg.
20 Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot SF 6-6 5.8 ppg. 2.1 rpg.
1 T.J. McConnell PG 6-2 6.8 ppg. 6.5 apg.
Coach: Brett Brown (fourth season, 75-250)
Injury report: Ben Simmons (right foot fracture, out), Jerryd Bayless (left wrist ligament tear, out), Joel Embiid (left knee meniscus tear, bone bruise, out), Robert Covington (right knee meniscus tear, out), Jahlil Okafor (right knee soreness, out), Sergio Rodriguez (left hamstring, out).
THE SERIES
Bucks own a 104-98 series advantage, but the Sixers won this season's previous two meetings.
LAS VEGAS LINE
Milwaukee is a 6 ½-point favorite.
LAST SERIES MEETING
The Sixers had another performance reminiscent of last season when they faced the Bucks on March 6.
No matter how much effort they displayed, it was obvious that the Sixers didn't have a chance as the Bucks cruised to a 112-98 victory at the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers (23-40) were without Okafor for the second straight game because of right knee soreness.
But his presence probably wouldn't have made a difference in a game that was basically over late in the second quarter.
That's when the Sixers trailed by 19 points twice en route to suffering their fifth loss in the last six games. Milwaukee extended its lead to 27 points with 9 minutes, 36 seconds left. And this was a Bucks squad that the Sixers beat in this season's previous two series meetings.
But that was before Embiid was lost for the season with a torn meniscus/bone bruise in the left knee and Nerlens Noel and Ersan Ilyasova were traded.
On this night, Antetokounmpo and Snell took advantage.
Antetokounmpo finished with a game-high 24 points to go with eight rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and two steals.
Snell added 21 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals despite sitting out the fourth quarter. The shooting guard made 8 of 11 shots, including 5 of 7 three-pointers. Eighteen of his points came in the first half.
Anderson, Covington, Saric, and Shawn Long paced the Sixers.
Anderson had a team-high 19 points to go with six rebounds in a reserve role. Covington finished with 15 points, two blocks and a steal. Saric added 14 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Long had 13 points and seven rebounds after signing with the Sixers earlier in the day.
UPCOMING GAMES
Monday: 7 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Indiana Pacers at Sixers
Wednesday: 8 p.m., at Madison Square Garden, Sixers at New York Knicks.
Follow and contact 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers.