Final
Least of the East! Sixers battle Bucks
Dec 21, 2013 - 4:07 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Milwaukee Bucks will try to halt a five-game slide on Saturday night when they welcome the Philadelphia 76ers to the Bradley Center.The Bucks haven't visited the winner's circle since a Dec. 10 victory in Chicago over the Bulls. Milwaukee has dropped five straight at home and own the worst record in the Eastern Conference.
On Friday, the Bucks fell in overtime to the Cleveland Cavaliers, 114-111. Tristan Thompson tipped in a Kyrie Irving miss to force the extra session, then Irving took over in the five-minute overtime.
Despite Irving's great play, the Bucks had a chance to tie it in overtime, but O.J. Mayo missed two 3-pointers late.
"I would take them (shots) any time of day," Mayo said of his two late misses. "I should have made that."
Mayo scored 20 points and had seven rebounds, John Henson had 18 points and 10 rebounds and Brandon Knight added 17 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists for the Bucks. Khris Middleton contributed 14 points and seven rebounds.
The Bucks have been ravaged by injuries and Friday was no different. Caron Butler warmed up, but couldn't return to action and Ersan Ilyasova joined the list with an ankle injury. Gary Neal is in a walking boot and didn't travel to Cleveland.
Butler is a game-time decision, but Ilyasova and Neal are both expected to miss the Sixers game.
Philly snapped a seven-game losing streak Friday night with a home win over the Brooklyn Nets. The Sixers have one other streak hanging around their collective necks, an 11-game road slide.
But, the Sixers got back into the win column with a 121-120 overtime victory at the Wells Fargo Center Saturday.
"We needed to get that win for the sanity of our group," said Philadelphia head coach Brett Brown.
Evan Turner's runner as time expired hit every part of the rim before falling through to win.
Turner had his initial attempt at the rim blocked by Alan Anderson with 6.9 ticks left, leading to a Philly inbounds under the basket. Out of a timeout, Turner received the ball, drove left and released a floater over two defenders as the clock hit zero.
"I was thinking, 'where did the ball go?'" said Turner. "I thought it came out the other side."
Turner netted a game-high 29 points with 10 rebounds and five assists for Philly, which has still not won in regulation since Nov. 8.
Thaddeus Young added 25 points and Tony Wroten had 19 off the bench against Brooklyn. Michael Carter-Williams returned after a knee infection and finished with 15 points and 10 assists.
The Sixers, who embark on a six-game road trip starting on Saturday, defeated the Bucks in overtime on Nov. 22 in Philadelphia. Milwaukee has won five of six at home in this series.
Dec 21 10:53 PM- PHILADELPHIA: 72
MILWAUKEE: 85
End of 3rd
Dec 21 10:13 PM - PHILADELPHIA: 49
MILWAUKEE: 59
Halftime
Dec 21 9:33 PM - PHILADELPHIA: 23
MILWAUKEE: 29
End of 1st
Dec 21 9:03 PM - PHILADELPHIA: 0
MILWAUKEE: 0
1st Quarter - 11:38
Dec 21 8:42 PM
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