Bucks 91, 76ers 87
MILWAUKEE -- Bucks shooting guard Khris Middleton hit a 3-pointer with 48.4 seconds left to lock down a 91-87 Milwaukee victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
Middleton led Milwaukee with 21 points while center Greg Monroe finished with 18 -- six of those coming in the final six minutes -- eight rebounds.
Center Jahlil Okafor scored 21 to pace the 76ers, who also got 17 from forward Nerlens Noel and 14 from guard Nik Stauskas.
Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo hit 6 of 10 shots for 15 points. He converted a three-point play with 1.4 seconds left in the third, sending Milwaukee into the final quarter up 68-67.
Guard Grieves Vasquez sank a 3-pointer and Antetokoumpo stretched the lead to six before Brett Brown called timeout with 10:35 to play.
The 76ers kept getting close but couldn't move past Milwaukee until Noel's lay-up with 3:41 to play made it an 81-80 game. Middleton missed a 3-pointer on the other end and Jerami Grant sank a pair of free-throws to put Philadelphia up three with 3:12 left.
But Milwaukee took advantage of two crucial turnovers and cold shooting by Philadelphia and moved back ahead after Monroe scored on back-to-back possessions with 2:08 left.
Forward Jabari Parker scored two points and grabbed four rebounds in his first action since tearing his ACL Jan. 5 of last season at Phoenix.
Parker was in the starting lineup Wednesday and looked no worse for the wear in 16 minutes of work but was on the bench for the entree fourth quarter.
After dropping their first two games this season, the Bucks pulled even at 2-2 while the 76ers are still looking for their first victory after dropping to 0-4.
NOTES: Undrafted rookie PG T.J. McConnell made his first career start and scored seven points in 25 minutes Wednesday for Philadelphia. ... Bucks PG Michael Carter-Williams did not play because a sprained left ankle. ... Wednesday marked the season debut for Bucks F Jabari Parker, who had been sidelined since tearing his left ACL on Jan. 5 of last season. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2014 draft, Parker averaged 12.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 25 games before suffering the injury. ... Milwaukee was still without SG O.J. Mayo, who is recovering from a strained hamstring suffered late in training camp. ... F Robert Covington did not travel with the 76ers to Milwaukee after re-injuring his right knee. Covington missed Philadelphia’s first two games this season then scored four points in 22 minutes Monday night only to tweak the knee during a practice session Tuesday. ... The 76ers have lost six in a row to Milwaukee, and nine of the last 11 meetings between the two teams.