Paul George didn’t just torch the Bucks on Tuesday night - he did it with a playbook he knows all too well. The Sixers star dropped 32 points and tied a franchise record with nine made threes in a 139-122 rout of a shorthanded Milwaukee squad, and the irony? He did it against Doc Rivers, his former coach and now the man trying to steer the Bucks through a challenging stretch.
“I just know Doc,” George said postgame, and he wasn’t bluffing. Having played under Rivers with the Clippers during the 2019-20 season, George had a clear read on the defensive schemes coming his way.
“I know his coverages. I know his play calling.
I know what he’s looking for.” That familiarity showed - and then some.
George was in complete command, shooting 11-of-21 from the field and a blistering 9-of-15 from beyond the arc. Whether it was pull-ups, catch-and-shoots, or step-backs, George was locked in, dismantling every adjustment Rivers tried to throw at him. It was a vintage performance from a player who’s been heating up as the season wears on - and a reminder that when he’s in rhythm, few wings in the league are more dangerous.
But this wasn’t a one-man show. Joel Embiid came out of the gates like a man on a mission, bullying Milwaukee’s interior defense with 18 first-quarter points and finishing with 29 overall. Embiid set the tone early, establishing deep post position and forcing the Bucks to collapse, which opened up space for Philly’s shooters - space that George and the rest of the Sixers were more than happy to exploit.
Tyrese Maxey, ever the engine of this offense, added 22 points and nine assists. His ability to keep the pace high and the ball moving ensured that the Sixers stayed in rhythm even when George cooled off for stretches.
And perhaps the most encouraging sign for Philly fans? Jared McCain.
The second-year guard had been in a bit of a funk, but he broke out of it in the fourth quarter, drilling four triples and finishing with 17 points. His surge helped stretch the lead to as much as 22 and put the game out of reach.
On the other side, Milwaukee was without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who sat out with a calf strain. In his absence, Myles Turner stepped up with 31 points, doing his best to keep the Bucks afloat.
Offensively, he gave them a fighting chance. Defensively?
That was another story.
The Bucks simply couldn’t get stops. The Sixers shot better than 50% from the field, moved the ball with purpose, and turned it over just six times.
That’s elite-level execution, and it left Milwaukee scrambling for answers. Rivers tried switching coverages, mixing in zone looks, and throwing different defenders at George, but nothing stuck.
For Philadelphia, this win was more than just a bounce-back after a rough outing in Charlotte - it was a statement. With George firing on all cylinders, Embiid anchoring the paint, and Maxey orchestrating the offense, the Sixers looked every bit like a team ready to make a serious push up the Eastern Conference standings.
As for the Bucks, the questions are starting to pile up. Giannis’ health is obviously priority number one, but the bigger concern might be how this team holds up defensively without him - and whether Rivers can find a way to tighten things up before the losses start to snowball.
One thing’s for sure: Paul George reminded everyone that when he’s locked in, he’s still one of the most complete two-way players in the league - and on this night, he used every bit of his insider knowledge to give his old coach a long, long night.