Carter-Williams scores 30 as Bucks beat Sixers

Michael Carter-Williams received one of the best receptions of his NBA career on Monday night. He then promptly turned in probably his most gratifying performance this season.

Carter-Williams scored a game-high 30 points to go with five assists, five rebounds, three steals and a block against his former team as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the 76ers, 107-97.

The victory came in Carter-Williams' first return to Wells Fargo Center since his trade on Feb. 19. There were some scattered boos. But for the most part, the 10,598 on hand showed their appreciation for last season's rookie of the year. The Sixers (18-63) honored Carter-Williams with a video tribute during a timeout at the 2-minute, 31-second mark of the first quarter.

"I was only there for a year and a half," he said. "So I didn't know what [his return] was going to be like. I'm happy for it. I couldn't believe it. One of my coaches told me [the Sixers] did a little something for me. So I was happy."

Listening to Bucks coach Jason Kidd's instructions, Carter-Williams did not see the tribute.

The game got a little testy in the fourth quarter and players had to be separated. Milwaukee's O.J. Mayo received a technical foul for pushing Henry Sims in the back with 2:13 remaining. Then Milwaukee's Jerryd Bayless and JaKarr Sampson picked up technical fouls for exchanging words with 1:41 left.

Before the game, Carter-Williams chatted with his former coach Brett Brown, several of his former teammates and Sixers staff members.

The 6-foot-6, 190-pounder admitted that it was odd being a member of the opposing team at Wells Fargo.

"When I walked in, I was like, 'Man, I never been in here on the other side of the locker room,' " he said. "So yeah, it is odd. But it is what it is."

Carter-Williams saw himself as a Sixers building block - not an asset used to obtain the Los Angeles Lakers' top-five-protected draft pick. But he was an asset that brought another first-rounder to Philadelphia.

"But, you know, I adjusted," he said. "My new teammates are great. They did a great job filling me in on the new things and plays and on- and off-the-court things."

The 23-year-old left a team with the third-worst record in the NBA, now riding a nine-game losing streak. Now, he plays for the Eastern Conference's sixth seed in the playoffs. The Bucks are 41-40.

As a Sixer, Carter-Williams was asked to take it to the rim or shoot three-pointers, something he struggles with. "It's a different type of basketball," he said. "I think the defensive schemes are a little bit different. We don't play as fast, obviously, as when I was in Philly. But you know, it's just different basketball."

Carter-Williams opened the game by blocking Furkan Aldemir's layup attempt. Then he went on to score 14 points in the first quarter. Fifteen of his points came in the third when he scored his team's last 11. Carter-Williams could have added to his game-high total but played only 3:23 of the fourth quarter.

Brown was asked if his former point guard was motivated to face the Sixers. "For sure, he came in and had a hell of a game," the coach said. "We wish him well in the playoffs."

But there are some who think the Sixers are better since Carter-Williams' departure.

Nerlens Noel benefited the most before missing the last two games with a sprained right ankle. The center even called Ish Smith the "first true point I ever played with" last month. Noel later said that wasn't a knock at Carter-Williams, his longtime friend from the Boston area.

"I'm sure he wasn't trying to take a shot at me," Carter-Williams said. "If he was, then I don't know. Nerlens is my friend. He's my dog. He's cool with me. He's been cool since we were young. I didn't even think much into it."

Robert Covington led the Sixers with 25 points, seven rebounds and four blocks. But he also had 10 turnovers.

30

Michael Carter-Williams' point total

vs. the 76ers.

33

His career high.

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