One of these games was not like the others.
After beating the Bucks in their first two meetings of the season, the Sixers were blown out, 112-98, on Monday night.
The Sixers were out of this game early on. The Bucks took a 10-point lead in the first 3:17 and were up by 17 at halftime.
The Sixers trailed by as many as 27 points in the game as the Bucks easily improved to 29-33. The Sixers dropped to 23-40.
While all eyes were on Giannis Antetokounmpo in this matchup, it was Tony Snell who led the early charge for the Bucks. Snell scored 18 points in the first half (21 points and seven rebounds for the game) and was the only player in double digits after two quarters.
Antetokounmpo still dropped a game-high 24 points (including 12 in the third), as well as eight rebounds and five assists.
NBA
Shawn Long stood out for the Sixers with 13 points and seven rebounds in 15 minutes off the bench. He was called up from the Delaware 87ers and signed his 10-day contract the morning of the game (see story).
Inside the box score
• Justin Anderson led the Sixers with 19 points (and had six rebounds) in 23 minutes off the bench.
• Sixers guards T.J. McConnell and Sergio Rodriguez and Bucks forward Khris Middleton dished eight assists each.
• Dario Saric tallied his 13th straight game of 10-plus points (14 points, eight rebounds, six assists).
• Malcolm Brogdon, whose name has been in the mix with Saric for Rookie of the Year since Joel Embiid's injuries, scored 13 points with five rebounds.
• Richaun Holmes neared a double-double with eight points and nine rebounds in 22 minutes as the starting center. Jahlil Okafor did not play in his second straight game because of right knee soreness.
Two different teams
There's really no comparison between Monday and their first two meetings of the season. Consider this: both teams had multiple starters on Jan. 25 that didn't start on Monday. For the Sixers, Ersan Ilyasova and Nerlens Noel now are playing elsewhere. For the Bucks, Jabari Parker suffered a season-ending ACL injury and Miles Plumlee was traded. Matthew Dellavedova has been moved to the bench for Brogdon. Also, Middleton was still sidelined at the time.
Bucks approach
The Bucks didn't want to get outmatched like they had been in their last two meetings. Head coach Jason Kidd came with the game plan.
"We have to rebound," he said. "We can't give them second or third opportunities because they're very good at finishing. We've got to be able to keep them from getting in the paint and controlling the game."
Center-court surprise
As part of the Sixers' Stars and Stripes program, the team helped First Lieutenant Christopher Ngo surprise his family after returning from overseas.
Up next
The team will attend the second annual Sixers Youth Foundation Gala on Tuesday night. The following day, the Sixers depart for the West Coast, where they begin a four-game road swing on Thursday against the Trail Blazers.