76ers climb to 6th in East, beat Bucks

PHILADELPHIA, PA -JANUARY 20: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates in front of John Henson #31 of the Milwaukee Bucks after scoring late in the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center on January 20, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Rob Carr/Getty Images/AFP

PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid had 29 points and nine rebounds and the Philadelphia 76ers pulled away from the undermanned Milwaukee Bucks 116-94 on Saturday night for their seventh win in eight games.

Ben Simmons added 16 points and nine assists, and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot added 16 points in a rare start as the Sixers (22-20) moved past Milwaukee (23-22) for sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

Khris Middleton had 23 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists for the Bucks in their second straight loss. They were without top scorer Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was sitting out the first of two games to rest a sore right knee.

Fellow starter Malcolm Brogdon (family matter) also wasn’t available. Tony Snell (15 points) and Sterling Brown (14 points) moved into the lineup, and the Bucks rallied from 16 points down to tie it before fading in the fourth quarter.

Antetokounmpo practiced Friday, but the Bucks announced Saturday morning that the two-time All-Star would be out until Friday against Brooklyn to “manage” his ailment. Knee pain also kept Antetokounmpo sidelined on Nov. 22 and Dec. 23.

“Hopefully, after missing these two games, he doesn’t have to miss any more,” Bucks coach Jason Kidd said.

Philadelphia was without its top two shooting guards. JJ Redick (cracked bone below his knee) is out at least a week and Jerryd Bayless (sore left wrist) didn’t dress.

Luwawu-Cabarrot, a French guard in his second NBA season, stepped into the starting lineup and made 3 of 5 3-pointers. His 3 capped a 13-0 run early in the fourth as Philadelphia built a 97-82 lead.

The Sixers showed good depth early. Nine players scored in the first quarter, and they built a 53-37 lead before halftime.

After committing just three first-half turnovers, the Sixers threw it away 11 times in the third, and Middleton and Eric Bledsoe (14 points on 5-of-18 shooting) helped the Bucks rally to tie it.

Embiid responded with a dunk and a block on Bledsoe and a three-point play to end the third and give the Sixers an 84-80 lead.

TIP-INS

Bucks: Brogdon is expected back Monday. … Marshall Plumlee, signed to a two-way contact five days earlier, made an impact in his team debut. He had six points and six rebounds and started the fourth quarter … Milwaukee plays the Sixers three more times, including at Philadelphia on April 11 to end the regular season.

76ers: Rookie G Markelle Fultz participated in shootaround as he tries to regain his shooting form following a right shoulder injury. The No. 1 overall pick has missed 38 straight games. … Simmons didn’t attempt a 3-pointer for the 12th time in 13 games. He’s 0 for 10 from long range. … With the game in hand, fans turned their attention to Sunday’s NFC championship game with several “Eagles” chants.

UP NEXT

Bucks: Home vs. Phoenix on Monday night.

76ers: At Memphis on Monday night.