After sitting on the sidelines as the champs lost, Giannis Antetokounmpo returned with a vengeance to drop a 50.
Plus with James Harden still sidelined, the Sixers hit an all-time low against one of their great rivals.
Catch up on today’s scores, results and headlines in the NBA Wrap!
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GIANNIS’ ABSURD 50 IN NEAR CAREER-BEST
The night before, he’d watched as his NBA champions fell to lowly Portland, absent with a sore left ankle.
It didn’t look sore tonight.
Giannis Antetokounmpo went off with 50 points plus 14 rebounds as the superstar led Milwaukee to a season sweep of Indiana, winning 128-119.
It was two off Antetokounmpo’s career-best 52 points scored against the Sixers on March 17, 2019, and his first 50 since the clinching game of last season’s NBA Finals.
Meanwhile it was Giannis’ career-high seventh 40-point game for the year.
Buddy Hield had a season-high 36 points for Indiana while Tyrese Haliburton added 17 points and eight assists.
The Bucks remain 1.5 games back of the East-leading Heat and Bulls, 0.5 games ahead of the Cavaliers and a game ahead of the Sixers.
HARDEN WATCHES SIXERS HIT ALL-TIME WORST
This was not the Sixers’ night.
After introducing James Harden to fans earlier in the day, and allowing him to ring the Liberty Bell pre-game, the ex-Net watched his side produce their worst ever loss to their rivals Boston, 135-87.
The margin was the biggest by the Celtics over Philadelphia in 457 meetings.
Boston hit a franchise-best 25 threes and led by 51 points at one stage as boos rained down on the Sixers.
Jaylen Brown had 26 of his 29 points in the first half to set the stage while Jayson Tatum had 28 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, helping the Celtics to their 11th win in 12 games.
Joel Embiid, who entered the game averaging 29.5 points and with 31 consecutive 25-point hauls, had just 19 points with nine rebounds.
Harden is expected to make his Sixers debut in Minnesota on February 25 (US time).
NBA SCORES FOR WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 16 (AEDT)
Cavaliers 116 – 124 Hawks
Mavericks 107 – 99 Heat
Celtics 135 – 87 Sixers
Pacers 119 – 128 Bucks
Hornets 120 – 126 Timberwolves (OT)
Grizzlies 121 – 109 Pelicans
Clippers – Suns in progress