Further proof that the preseason is not a reliable indicator of the form of a team, Milwaukee, which had not won a single match during its preparation (5 games, 5 losses), launched its 2022-2023 exercise. by a success against Philadelphia, one of the other leaders announced in the Eastern Conference.
Nothing was easy for the 2021 champion, however, who started his season without one of his major players, Khris Middleton, nor Joe Ingles and Pat Connaughton, injured. Leading by a narrow margin at the break (47-45), the Wisconsin franchise tightened its defense and stifled its opponent on returning from the locker room to take a lead of up to thirteen lengths (80-67) at ten minutes. of the end. This is the moment James Harden chose to wake up: author of 16 of his 31 points in the last quarter alone, the rear allowed his team to pass a 13-0 to equalize six minutes from the buzzer (80-80).
Then began a nice mano a mano between the two teams, finally won by Milwaukee thanks to the efforts of Giannis Antetokounmpo (21 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 blocks) but above all thanks to a successful three-point shot by the substitute Wesley Matthews 24 seconds from the siren. Harden had the opportunity to restore the advantage to his own, but the defense of the Bucks prevented him. Joel Embiid (15 points, 12 rebounds), clumsy (6/21, 4 loss of balls), did not score the entire second half and saw his team suffer a second setback in two games this season.
