Embiid scores 42 as Sixers down Bucks

After a humiliating 135-87 loss to Boston on Tuesday, the Sixers roared back to life with a gutsy win over the reigning NBA champions in Milwaukee. Embiid enhanced his MVP credentials with another dominant performance for Philadelphia in the final game before the All-Star break. Antetokounmpo led the Bucks' scoring with 32 points, while Jrue Holiday had 24 and Khris Middleton 19.

But the victory went to Embiid and the Sixers in a game that saw the lead change hands 15 times. Cameroonian star Embiid, who will turn out for Kevin Durant's All-Star line-up this weekend, said the Sixers had been determined to make a statement after Tuesday's mauling by Boston. "It sucked...

we learned a lot from that," Embiid said. "Tonight we had to get back to our game and send a message." The Sixers also relished another battle with Antetokounmpo. "These kind of match-ups are always fun, battling against a great player," Embiid said.

The Sixers victory also came without new recruit James Harden, who is expected to be fit after the All-Star break. Embiid is looking forward to welcoming Harden into the fold after his blockbuster move from Brooklyn. "I'm excited about it, I'm excited for us to be healthy," he said.

"I've got to keep doing what I've been doing and I'm sure my teammates are going to follow. We're excited about what we can accomplish."                    - Doncic dominates -                                      Elsewhere Thursday, Dallas star Luka Doncic continued his superb run of recent form with 49 points as the Mavericks overpowered the Pelicans 125-118 in New Orleans. The 22-year-old Slovenian star's dazzling display included seven three-pointers as well as 15 rebounds and eight assists in a game that Dallas dominated