Scary 4th Quarter Spoils Sixers Effort Vs. Bucks

MILWAUKEE –– For the second straight game, the Sixers allowed a close contest to slip away from them in the fourth quarter, as they fell to the Bucks 93-81 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on Friday night.

The Sixers entered the fourth quarter up 74-73, but after seeing their turnover total jump from nine to 12 in the opening 90 seconds of the final frame, Philadelphia found themselves on the wrong end of a 7-0 run. They rallied to cut their six-point deficit to one and make it 82-81 minutes later but were held scoreless over the final 8 minutes and 21 seconds of the game.

“We give them credit, they played good defense, but we missed a lot of shots,” said head coach Brett Brown after the game. “I thought our guys played their hearts out, but they just couldn’t score.”

Philadelphia missed its last 14 field goals and failed to get to the free-throw line a single time in the fourth quarter.

Noel and Parker Shine In First Meeting

Friday’s game featured the first of what should be many meetings between rookies Nerlens Noel and Jabari Parker. Once members of the same high school class before Noel reclassified in 2012, the two battled for the top spot in national rankings for much of their high school careers.

Now, as pros, the two will fight for Rookie of the Year honors. The two sit atop NBA.com’s Rookie Ladder and are among the most likely first-year players to win the award according to Las Vegas oddsmakers.

“To get to see a Nerlens Noel and Jabari Parker, it’s great for the game, it’s great for the fans tonight,” Sixers head coach Brett Brown said before the game. “I’m excited to see those two.”

Noel and Parker didn’t disappoint.

Noel finished the game with 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting to go along with 10 rebounds, two assists, three blocks, and a steal. In doing so, he became the first Sixers rookie since Jerry Stackhouse (1995) to reach 14 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks in a game. Additionally, after pulling down 10 boards and swatting three shots in each of his first two outings, he joined Shaquille O’Neal, Dikembe Mutombo, and David Robinson as the only players since 1985 to accomplish that feat.

“I stayed within myself and looked to take better shots,” Noel said when asked about bouncing back from a 2-for-11 performance from the floor in his debut against the Pacers on Wednesday. “My guards found me, and Henry [Sims] as well, and I [picked] my spots.”

Jabari Parker put together a double-double performance in his home debut with Milwaukee, scoring 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting and notching 10 rebounds in front of a sellout crowd.

Next Up

It’ll be a quick turnaround for the Sixers, who return from their two-game, season-opening road trip to host the Miami Heat in their home opener Saturday at 7pm. Tickets for that game are still available.