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 Milwaukee held Philadelphia without a basket over the final 8
minutes and 21 seconds and got 25 points off the bench from shooting
guard O.J. Mayo.
"We played defense tonight," forward John Henson said. "We didn't
get a few bounces on the other end, but they didn't either. That's
how you win ballgames and that's what we did tonight.
Down one through three quarters, the Bucks' second unit used a pair
of turnovers to score seven points in the first minute of the
fourth. Mayo got it started with a 3-pointer -- one of five on the
day -- and added two more with a long 2 at the 10:36 mark to make it
an 80-74 game.
The 76ers stormed back and made it a one-point game on a 3-pointer
by off-guard Hollis Thompson, who led the 76ers with 15 points. But
that would be it for Philadelphia, which didn't even attempt a shot
the rest of the way and turned the ball over four times.
 "When you look at those turnovers -- and we were only 54 percent
(from the free-throw line), it's hard," 76ers head coach Brett Brown
said. "Forty-eight minutes is a long game for our group and I give
them credit defensively. We're doing a good job defensively, we're
just having a hard time trying to find ways to score."
Milwaukee, meanwhile, scored 11 straight down the stretch. Mayo got
that last run started on a running jumper with 7:14 remaining and
made it a nine-point contest on a 3-pointer with 5:09 to play.
"The ball was going in the basket," Kidd said. "He's a veteran and
he's carrying over from preseason when he shot the ball extremely
well. He communicates and helps guys out. He's been great for us."
Mayo also finished with five assists.
"Just staying with the game , show the ball, move it," Mayo said.
"Let the defense dictate what they want to take away and it's up to
us to make the play."
Mayo's scoring made up for an otherwise lackluster effort from the
Bucks, who shot just 41 percent from the field and turned the ball
over 21 times. But again, the defensive effort saved the day as
Milwaukee out-rebounded the 76ers, 40-30, and got 11 blocks,
including five from forward John Henson and four from center Larry
Sanders, who also chipped in 10 and 15 rebounds, respectively.
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"He was great," Kidd said. "The last two games and before he had
surgery in preseason, he was playing at a very high level. He's
accepted the role as our defensive anchor and has changed a lot of
shots with some big blocks but also giving us second and third
opportunities on the offensive end, too."
Forward Jabari Parker, the No. 2 overall pick in the June draft,
recorded his first career double-double, scoring nine on 4-of-6
shooting in the first quarter and finished with 11 points and 10
rebounds.
Philadelphia center Nerlens Noel also recorded his first career
double-double, hitting 7 of 11 shots to finish with 14 points to go
along with 10 rebounds and three blocked shots.
"I had to learn to pick and choose my spots better this game and I
was able to have a better efficiency and not hurt my team in any
way," said Noel, who led his team with 35 minutes for the second
straight game.
The 76ers also got 14 from guard Tony Wroten and 12 off the bench
form KJ McDaniels but overall, Philadelphia struggled from the
field, making only 32 of 86 attempts and was five of 23 from beyond
the arc.
NOTES: The Bucks finished with 11 blocks and have at least 10 in
each of their first two games this season. ... Philadelphia picked
up the third-year options on C Nerlens Noel and PG Michael
Carter-Williams on Friday. Noel scored six points Wednesday in the
76ers season opener and was in the starting lineup Friday.
Carter-Williams has yet to play this season due to a right shoulder
injury. Ö Milwaukee was unable to reach an agreement on a contract
extension with PG Brandon Knight, whose rookie-scale contract
expires after this season.
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