Lillard and Antetokounmpo power Bucks past short-handed 76ers 124-109

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Damian Lillard scored 30 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo added 25 and the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 124-109 in the season opener for both teams Wednesday night.

Lillard scored 15 points in the third quarter and finished with six 3-pointers, nine rebounds and five assists.

Antetokounmpo shot 8 for 11 from the floor and had a game-high 14 rebounds as Milwaukee got double-figure scoring from six players.

Taurean Prince and Bobby Portis scored 16 points apiece for the Bucks, how had 16 3-pointers.

Tyrese Maxey scored 25 points and Andre Drummond had 13 points and 11 rebounds for Philadelphia, which was without injured stars Joel Embiid and Paul George, who are sidelined due to knee injuries.

TAKEAWAYS

Bucks: Lillard and Brook Lopez ran the pick and roll frequently against Philly. The picks were extended out beyond the 3-point line. Several of Lopez’s picks were set at or near half court, allowing Lillard to have a combination of time and space to create offense.

76ers: Guerschon Yabusele played his first game in the NBA since 2019. After playing internationally for five seasons, Yabusele provided the 76ers with 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals in 25 minutes.

KEY MOMENT

Milwaukee used a 25-12 run in a six-minute span of the second quarter to pull away. Bobby Portis was a key figure for the Bucks during that time. On consecutive plays, Portis blocked a shot, grabbed a defensive rebound, assisted Taurean Prince on a layup, picked up a steal and scored on a running layup.

KEY STAT

Lillard and Antetokounmpo became the first pair of Bucks teammates to register at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists in a season opener.

UP NEXT

The Bucks have their home opener against Chicago on Friday. On the same night, Philadelphia travels to Toronto.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo, top, is fouled by Philadelphia 76ers' Kelly Oubre Jr. during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo, right, tries to get past Philadelphia 76ers' Eric Gordon during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard, left, tries to get past Philadelphia 76ers' Kelly Oubre Jr. during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, top left, and Paul George, bottom right, watch from the bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard, front, gets past Philadelphia 76ers' KJ Martin during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo, top, goes up against Philadelphia 76ers' Caleb Martin during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia 76ers' KJ Martin (1) and Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reach for a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Connor McMichael scored twice, Alex Ovechkin got an empty-netter for the 855th goal of his NHL career and the Washington Capitals beat the Philadelphia Flyers 6-3 Wednesday night for their fifth consecutive victory.

The Flyers clawed back from a four-goal deficit to make things interesting, but they still lost their sixth in a row since winning their season opener. They have been outscored 29-14 during this skid that have continued to snowball thanks to a mix of turnovers, bad goaltending and not enough offense to compensate.

Washington was undisciplined in almost blowing a big lead but kept rolling after getting 26 saves from Logan Thompson and production from up and down the lineup. In addition to McMichael's second and third goals of the season, fourth-line forwards Taylor Raddysh and Nic Dowd also scored for the Capitals, and Pierre-Luc Dubois also had an empty-net goal.

Philadelphia's Ivan Fedotov allowed four goals on 24 shots in his fourth NHL start and still has yet to win a game. Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett and Matvei Michkov had the Flyers' goals.

Flyers: Trying to dig out of a deep hole is not the way to go and structure is still lacking, but Michkov, who also had an assist, is as advertised at age 19 and will only get better.

Capitals: Ovechkin, who has two goals this season, is now 40 from breaking Wayne Gretzky's career record.

Thompson denied Morgan Frost on a breakaway late in the second period, then made a series of saves the following shift before intermission to maintain a two-goal lead when the Flyers were pressing.

The Flyers have been outscored 13-5 in second periods this season.

The Flyers host Minnesota on Saturday afternoon in the first half of a home back-to-back this weekend, while the Capitals visit Tampa Bay that same night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Washington Capitals right wing Taylor Raddysh (16) celebrates his goal with defenseman Dylan McIlrath (52) and right wing Brandon Duhaime (22) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals center Hendrix Lapierre (29) battles for the puck against Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ivan Fedotov (82) and defenseman Travis Sanheim (6) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (48) stops a shot by Philadelphia Flyers center Morgan Frost (48) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler, left, and Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) scuffle during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals center Connor McMichael (24) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals right wing Taylor Raddysh (16) celebrates his goal with defenseman Dylan McIlrath (52) and right wing Brandon Duhaime (22) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals center Connor McMichael (24) celebrates his goal next to Philadelphia Flyers center Scott Laughton (21) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)