Giannis Antetokounmpo had 40 points (24 in the paint) and 14 rebounds, and the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 118-116.
Jrue Holiday’s pull-up 3-pointer put the Bucks ahead for good with 6:14 left in the fourth quarter.
The 76ers got within 117-116 on Joel Embiid’s 3-pointer with 49 seconds to play, but Antetokounmpo answered with a free throw, and the 76ers got no closer. They had the ball down 2 with 4.8 seconds left, but Antetokounmpo blocked Embiid’s putback at the rim. It would have tied the game.
During clutch time, the 76ers outscored the Bucks 11-10. Georges Niang scored 6 of the 76ers’ 11 on 2 for 2 shooting.
Khris Middleton had 22 points (9 during a 14-0 run in the first quarter), 9 rebounds and 7 assists.
For the 76ers, James Harden had 32 points and 9 assists, and Embiid added 29 points, 14 rebounds and 7 assists. Tobias Harris had 22 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals. The 76ers had 3 20-point scorers.
The 76ers got 5 offensive rebounds, about 4 fewer than usual for the shots they missed.