The Philadelphia 76ers have now completed 22 games. During that time, they have already played in five back-to-backs, the fifth coming in this matchup against former head coach Doc Rivers and the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite the exhausting schedule to start the season and the various injuries the team has had to power through, the Sixers found the strength to pull out a 116-101 win Friday night, their third straight victory, in large part thanks to a vintage performance by Paul George.
Once again, without Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford, and without Joel Embiid, who played the first game of the back-to-back, the Sixers were bolstered by the return of not just any Paul George, but the Paul George the Sixers envisioned when they signed him during the 2024 offseason.
The Sixers came out firing on all cylinders, securing a 33-20 advantage after one, led by a balanced offensive attack and a strong defensive effort that began with the Sixers' third star.
The Paul George experiment has not been easy for anyone involved. The lingering injuries George has dealt with can take a mental toll—let alone physical—on anyone. We've heard George, Embiid, and even Jared McCain discuss this in detail. Additionally, George has been open about the personal struggles he faced last season, including being affected by the California wildfires while living across the country.
George's previous struggles make a performance like this all the more special. With 20 points, five rebounds, five assists, and some imposing defensive play, the nine-time All-Star made an impact in every area, playing a season-high 30 minutes. The Sixers do not win this game without George, but it truly was a team effort to secure their third straight win.
Quentin Grimes led all scorers with 22 points, bouncing back from a poor three-point shooting night on Thursday, when he missed all five of his attempts, with an electric shooting performance, making six of seven three-pointers. Forward Jabari Walker also had tremendous success shooting the ball, making four of eight threes and scoring a season-high 18 points in just 18 minutes. Both players made the most of their minutes despite coming off the bench in this matchup, leading the bench to an impressive 61-point performance.
The Bucks were certainly shorthanded, but a double-digit victory on the road, especially with Paul George putting on the signature performance? The Sixers will take that any chance they can.
Philadelphia returns home for a matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night before enjoying a much-needed extended break as the NBA Cup wraps up. Both Luka Doncic and LeBron James missed their Friday night matchup against the Boston Celtics, but could potentially return against the Sixers on Sunday.
Philadelphia will tip off against LA at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday.
