Player grades: Sixers fall to Bucks at home, losing skid now at 10
PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers returned home on Thursday to play host to the Milwaukee Bucks looking to get closer to the finish line. The Sixers are still dealing with a ton of injuries and are hoping they can continue to develop their younger players at the end of a miserable season.
The Bucks, still playing for something this late in the season, got off to a slow start as the Sixers led by as many as 17. However, once Milwaukee kicked it into high gear, it was too much for Philadelphia to handle. The Bucks walked away with a 126-113 win sending the Sixers to their 10th straight loss.
Adem Bona had 28 and six rebounds for the Sixers while Quentin Grimes added 24 points and 10 assists. Guerschon Yabusele added 22 points and six rebounds, Jared Butler had 14 points and four assists, and Justin Edwards had eight and eight rebounds.
Here are the player grades following the loss:
Jared Butler: B-plus
The Bucks had a tough time staying in front of Butler in this one. He did a good job of being able to get to the basket and finish and he was efficient with his 3-point shooting. He made good decisions with the basketball and got the Sixers rolling early on the offensive end. He had been struggling with his shot as of late so it was good to see him get going again with his 3-point looks.
Quentin Grimes: A-minus
The Bucks did pay a lot of defensive attention to Grimes, but he was able to combat that with his playmaking. He tallied up six assists in the first quarter which allowed the Sixers to get into an offensive groove early and build a large lead against a talented Milwaukee team. He got going with his offense in the second quarter as he continues to show off his ability to put the ball in the basket as the No. 1 option for this group. There were a few moments in this one when he really took control. Meaning he was running things and making sure guys were in the right places. That's growth.
Justin Edwards: B
It was a solid night for Edwards. Continuing to play a ton of minutes as a rookie, he is powering through the 'rookie wall' and he did a solid job of producing on both ends in this one. He did a good job of manipulating the defense and getting to where he wanted to go on the offensive end. He was terrific on the glass as well being able to come up with some extra possessions for the Sixers.
Adem Bona: A-plus
It was a helluva night for Bona. Drawing the Antetokounmpo assignment on the defensive end, he had to expend a lot of energy having to defend the 2-time MVP, but that didn't slow him down on the offensive end. He was active around the basket, did an excellent job of cutting, and his athleticism made a difference against an older Bucks team. He powered his way through the defense for an impressive slam over what seemed like the entire Milwaukee team. He is beginning to understand how to produce at this level and he has a bright future in this league. The only word to describe Bona on this night is fantastic.
Guerschon Yabusele: A
There were some good offensive moments for Yabusele in this one. He knocked down a triple and then took Bucks big man Brook Lopez off the dribble to finish at the basket. He was active defensively and did his best on the glass when considering the size of the Bucks being an issue. Overall, The Dancing Bear made his biggest impact on the offensive end as he knocked down some timely triples and was able to get into a rhythm. His ability to be able to space the floor is going to be a big reason why the Sixers should bring him back in free agency in the offseason.
Jalen Hood-Schifino: A
The night for Hood-Schifino started with him getting into the mid-range and knocking down a tough shot over some tough defenders. He had a nice night overall being able to pump in some buckets while making plays for others with his passing and being a pest defensively. He also grabbed a couple of rebounds.
Lonnie Walker IV: B-plus
Walker hopped off the bench and was immediately engaged on the offensive end. He was aggressive in going to the basket and finishing against an indifferent Bucks defense in this one. He has a lightning quick first step and was able to then use his size to get his spots on offense in order to convert on his looks. He was helpful with his playmaking and his rebounding as he did a little bit of everything in this one.
Ricky Council IV: D
The initial stint for Council didn't produce much. He missed a deep 3-point attempt and grabbed a rebound in that stint, but not much else. He was able to help on the glass and give the Sixers some help in that area, but it was an overall quiet night.
Colin Castleton: C
Making his debut after being signed to a 10-day, Castleton had a nice assist to start the night. He has previous NBA experience with Memphis and Toronto so he has an understanding of how to play and what to do at this level and he gave the Sixers good production in this one.
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