The Milwaukee Bucks are hitting the road for their first back-to-back of the 2026-27 season, and it’s a brutal one: a trip to Pennsylvania to face the Philadelphia 76ers. Yesterday, the Bucks dropped their home opener to the Chicago Bulls, a game that flashed some real promise but also waved major red flags. We’re talking point of attack defense and ball security that just wasn’t good enough. Now, against a squad that absolutely torched them last season and is rolling, the Bucks need to find another gear.
Philly’s Stacked Up, But There’s a Catch
Forget everything you thought you knew about the 76ers because these guys are a different animal. They’ve gone full superteam, bringing in five-time All-Star Jaylen Brown and 22-time All-Star LeBron James to team up with seven-time All-Star Joel Embiid and two-time All-Star Tyrese Maxey. And next to them in the starting five? None other than 2025-26 All-Rookie team selection VJ Edgecombe. Yeah, they’re legitimately stacked, making those “superteams” of the past look like practice squads. But, as history has shown us, throwing a bunch of All-Stars together doesn’t mean an automatic championship. So, are these Sixers any good? Absolutely. They’re undefeated in this young season, already knocking off the reigning-champion New York Knicks 106-100 on Opening Night and taking down the Eastern Conference-finalist Cleveland Cavaliers 114-106 on Friday. For a little extra context of what the Bucks are up against, remember that on January 27, 2026, the 76ers put up a whopping 139 points on the Bucks, winning 139-122.
The Free Throw Line Is Milwaukee’s Nightmare
Here’s the wild part: Philly is undefeated despite some genuinely bad shooting numbers. Over their two wins, they’re only hitting 44% from the field and a paltry 27% from beyond the arc. How are they doing it then? Star power, baby. That talent is getting them to the free throw line a ridiculous 28.5 times per game. To put that in perspective, that number would have led the entire league last year. This is where Milwaukee’s red flags become screaming sirens. Defending without fouling has been a serious issue. Against the Washington Wizards, they gave up 41 attempts, with Anthony Davis and Trae Young combining for 30 of those. And yesterday, even against the Bulls, 2025-26 All-Star Norman Powell had seven first-half free throws on his way to nine for the game, and Chicago got to the line 30 times altogether. The Bucks absolutely have to tighten up their defense and keep their hands off this Philly squad if they want any shot.
So, the Bucks are facing a monumental task. The 76ers are rolling, undefeated, and drawing fouls like it’s their job, even with LeBron James listed as questionable with “old low back/sciatica.” Dominick Barlow (low back stress reaction), Tacko Fall (left quadriceps strain), and Ariel Hukporti (right Achilles tendon rupture) are all out for Philly. The Bucks haven’t even submitted their injury report yet. Can Milwaukee tighten up the defense, secure the ball, and steal one against what looks like a genuine juggernaut? We’ll find out when the ball tips off. This is going to be a true test of character.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Brew Hoop.
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