It was an opposite night for two of the NBA’s most dynamic players. In Milwaukee, Gioannis Antetokounmpo came within a field goal of a career high as he knocked down 50 points in a 122-118 Milwaukee Bucks win over the Utah Jazz. Meanwhile, Joel Embiid, the powerful center for the Philadelphia 76ers was defended perfectly by Marc Gasol of the Toronto Raptors, and for the first time in his NBA career, had zero points in a single game. The 76ers ended up losing to a Raptors squad that has become its arch nemesis, by a score of 101-96.
At the Fiserv Forum in Wisconsin, Antetokounmpo successfully shot 17 of his 31 field goal attempts, had three three-pointers and had 13 free throws. He also had 14 rebounds (eight defensive rebounds and six offensive rebounds), six assists and two steals. Antetokounmpo was also a +14.
Antetokounmpo recorded his career high in points just last season. He had 52 points in a 130-125 loss to the 76ers on March 17, 2019. Ironically, on this night the Bucks could not stop Embiid, as he had 40 points himself in a five point Philadelphia win.
Embiid, a two-time all-star, who averages a team-high 21 points per game with the 76ers, had possibly the worst game of his NBA career on Monday. He simply could not beat Gasol. In 31 minutes and 57 seconds of action, Embiid was 0 for 11 in his field goals attempts, zero for four from beyond the arc and could not even nail down any of his three attempts from the charity stripe. Yes, he did have 10 rebounds, but also had five personal fouls, four turnovers and had a plus/minus of -9.
How the Bucks and 76ers move on from these opposite performances should be interesting. Milwaukee leads the Eastern Conference with a record of 14 wins and three losses. The 76ers are in fifth place in the East at 11 wins and six losses.
