The Philadelphia 76ers just passed their first big test without LeBron James, snagging a huge 127-116 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night. And man, did Joel Embiid deliver, dropping an absolutely monster triple-double with 28 points, 11 boards, and 10 dimes.
The Big Man Stepped Up, The Squad Showed Out
This was the first time the Sixers hit the court without LeBron, and seeing Embiid take over the way he did in the second half was electric. He led the team in scoring, shooting 8-of-20 from the field, but it wasn’t just about the points. That triple-double shows he’s doing it all, quarterbacking the offense and owning the glass. It’s a statement win, period. And honestly, it says so much about this team’s grit right at the start of the season.
Young Guns and Vets Shine Bright
It wasn’t just Embiid carrying the load, though. Jaylen Brown celebrated his 30th birthday in style, going off for 27 points and five assists on 9-of-19 shooting. That’s a serious birthday gift to the fans! Then you’ve got VJ Edgecombe, who finally found his stroke from deep. After only hitting one three in the first two games, he drained *three* in the opening quarter alone! And two of those were even while he was still nursing a rough shot to the groin earlier, which is just insane toughness. Edgecombe finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds, making some huge plays on the glass and proving he’s here to contribute big time. Even Tyrese Maxey, on what the report called his “most modest night of the season,” still dropped 26 points and four assists. He even banked in a half-court shot at the buzzer to keep the Sixers up by nine after the first quarter, which was pure 🔥.
The team started hot, too, roaring out to a 10-1 lead. Dean Wade got his first Sixers points immediately, drilling a corner three on the first possession. Embiid was dishing out dimes like that behind-the-back bounce pass to Edgecombe for another much-needed three. The Bucks tried to stay in it with Jaime Jaquez Jr. leading them with 21 points, getting 12 of their first 13 points in the paint. Jaquez was a menace on the offensive glass too, always flying in for putbacks. We even saw Labaron Philon Jr. check in early for his first NBA action, though his first open three didn’t fall. Kyle Kuzma even put Adem Bona on a nasty poster, but Maxey’s logo shot kept the momentum on our side.
This win, especially without LeBron, sets a serious tone for the Sixers in the early season. When your stars are delivering triple-doubles and the supporting cast is stepping up big, you know you’ve got something special brewing. This team just showed everyone they’re not backing down, and that’s something to get hyped about as the season rolls on.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Liberty Ballers.
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