Jan. 28, 2026, 5:31 a.m. ET
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers returned home on Tuesday and picked up a much-needed 139-122 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. The Sixers needed to get back in the win column following a poor effort in the loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Monday, and their effort against the Bucks proved it.
Paul George had 32 points to lead Philadelphia while Joel Embiid added 29 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, Tyrese Maxey had 22 points and nine assists, and VJ Edgecombe added 12 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Jared McCain hopped off the bench and added 17 big points.
Here are the three biggest takeaways following the win:
A team morale win
The Sixers needed this one badly. The performance in Charlotte on Monday was a tough one for everybody involved. Obviously, the Sixers didn’t play well, and the Hornets jumped on them from the get-go. Still, it was also some crazy travel involved with the winter storm that swept through the East Coast. The Sixers didn’t get back home until roughly 1:00 in the morning on Tuesday, despite the game being moved up to 3 p.m. EST and being able to leave Charlotte earlier with the game time being moved up. Philadelphia had the right energy on Tuesday and handled business against a struggling Bucks team without Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!
“After they (the Hornets) smacked us?” Maxey said after he smacked his locker for emphasis. “It happens, man. Like, we played terrible. They played pretty good. Travel, all that was crazy. We washed it off. We knew we had a game tonight. Had to come out here and win it, and we did. So now we got to move more and try to get two more at home before we hit the road.”
McCain finds his rhythm
The Sixers have been waiting for this breakout performance from the second-year guard. It has been a struggle for McCain throughout the season, but he finally broke out against the Bucks. He knocked down five triples on six attempts on Tuesday with four of those 3s coming in the fourth to put Milwaukee away. He was terrific in this one as he was also able to put the ball on the floor and make things happen at the basket for himself as well as making plays for others. His performance in this one was important for Philadelphia closing this one out.
“It was really good,” said coach Nick Nurse. “Obviously, you know, Q (Quentin Grimes) got ruled out, so he slid into that first guard off the bench spot, and he played very well, which is great to see. A couple games in a row. I thought, obviously, he shot it well, but I thought he made some really good decisions too. He’s got three assists there, but I thought a couple times he drove in there and got the kind of chain reaction, ball movement started a couple times. So that was also good to see.”
George makes history
On his way to his 32 points, George knocked down nine 3-pointers on 15 attempts, which ties a Philadelphia franchise record for 3s in a game by a player. He ties Tyrese Maxey (2022), Danny Green (2021), and Dana Barros (1995) for the most made in a single game per StatMuse. The 9-time All-Star only played 7:44 in the fourth quarter as the Sixers had the game wrapped up, so he wasn’t able to get his 10th triple to break the record, but it is what it is at this point.
“I got a little thirsty late in the game, trying to get to 10,” George laughed. “Kyle (Lowry) was in my ear to that whole fourth quarter to get a couple more, but those things happen when everything aligns. I thought we played great offensively as a unit, and the ball just found me in those moments to knock shots down.”