Three reasons the Sixers lost in OT to Milwaukee

For the second night in a row, the 76ers played a drag-out defensive affair, and they lost a 109-105 overtime decision to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday at the Wells Fargo Center.

Here are three reasons for the loss.

Giannis Antetokounmpo wasn’t engaged in the first half when he had only four field-goal attempts. How can that be?

The Sixers, who led by as many as 19 points early in the third quarter, allowed Antetokounmpo and the Bucks to get back in the game, with the two-time reigning MVP leading the way. Antetokounmpo scored 28 of his 32 points in the second half and overtime.

All of his skills were on hand during this stretch in overtime when he scored seven straight points on a driving layup, his only three of the game, and a step-back 19-footer.

Antetokounmpo then sat in the court, a move that wasn’t appreciated by the Sixers or their fans.

The Sixers attempted just eight free throws and launched 41 three-point attempts. That is not a good combination, especially since they hit only 14 of the threes (34.1%). That showed they were settling too much for outside shots. Nobody on Milwaukee committed more than three fouls because the Sixers weren’t challenging the Bucks enough.

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The Sixers shot 5-for-8 from the foul line. Conversely, the Bucks were 18-for-24.

For the second straight game, the Sixers weren’t effective in transition. After being outscored by 23-8 in fast-break points by the slowpoke New York Knicks during Tuesday’s 99-96 win, the Sixers were outplayed in the transition game against Milwaukee.

The Bucks had a 20-9 edge in fast-break points. The Sixers lead the NBA in fast-break points (16.2 per game) but are last in preventing them, allowing 16.0 per game.