Doc Rivers Emphasizes 76ers' Bench Role in Win vs. Bucks
On Saturday night, the Philadelphia 76ers took on the Milwaukee Bucks as they looked to bounce back from a tough loss against the Dallas Mavericks earlier in the week.
The Bucks wouldn't be any easier of a challenge as they led the Sixers at halftime, 59-53, after a stellar first half from Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez, and former Philadelphia star Jrue Holiday, all of whom scored more than 10 points for their side.
Even coming out of halftime, it looked as if Milwaukee had Philadelphia's number down, as they continued to lead entering the fourth quarter, where the Sixers really showed up.
James Harden led Philadelphia's last-minute surge, dropping 19 points in the final quarter, helping his team pull themselves back into the game and leaving with the win.
While, Harden, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey all gave stellar performances, Doc Rivers feels as if it was their bench who got them back into the game.
"I thought the second group tonight in both stretches, in the second quarter, though they came in and gave us life and energy," Rivers told reporters.
Over the second half, Philadelphia's bench came up huge, scoring 24 points in the closing periods. In the fourth quarter, just as Harden nearly dropped 20 points, Georges Niang dropped an impressive 12 points, with Rivers singing the praises of the whole squad for keeping their heads up.
"Then in the fourth quarter, I thought that group saved the game for us, I really do," explained Rivers, "Jalen, Paul Reed, James, Shake, George, that's a lineup that I know we haven't practiced with, but it's one of those things, you hang in there."
Declan Harris contributes to All76ers, a Sports Illustrated channel. You can follow him on Twitter: @DecIanH.
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