Bucks Open a Four-Game Week in Philadelphia, Still Without a…

By the Bucks Nightly Desk · Saturday, October 24

The Bucks start the week 0-2 and travel to a Philadelphia team that is 2-0 and missing LeBron James. Three home games follow, beginning with the Pacers, a rival whose history with this franchise is recent and bitter.

Bucks Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Last season

Milwaukee finished 32-50 and missed the playoffs, with a net rating of minus-6.1. Philadelphia went 45-37 with a net rating of minus-0.1, a team that sat near the middle of the league on both ends. The gap between the two clubs was real, but it was measured in tens of wins, not a canyon.

This summer

The Bucks traded Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to Miami on June 23 for Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware and Kasparas Jakucionis. Taylor Jenkins was hired April 30 to coach the result. Philadelphia has Nick Nurse on the bench and Tyrese Maxey, who averaged 28.3 points last season.

Oct. 23

The home opener slipped away against Chicago, 132-125, after Milwaukee led by 15 in the first quarter. Herro scored 34, with 13 of them in the fourth. A 16-0 Bulls run in the second quarter erased the early cushion, and an 8-0 finish sealed it. The Bucks are 0-2 and have lost both games by at least seven.

Tonight

The 76ers are 2-0 and list LeBron James, Dominick Barlow, Ariel Hukporti and Tacko Fall as out, with Dean Wade day-to-day. Joel Embiid played 38 games last season and averaged 26.9 points. Milwaukee has one day of rest and no back-to-back. This is the toughest matchup on the week's schedule, and the only one on the road.

Oct. 26 to Oct. 31

Indiana arrives Monday, and Myles Turner will face the team that eliminated Milwaukee in the first round in both 2023-24 and 2025's playoffs. Houston follows on Wednesday, Cleveland on Saturday, all at Fiserv Forum. Three straight home dates give Jenkins a chance to settle a rotation that has already shifted, with Pete Nance and Jericho Sims logging heavy minutes.

Next Monday, Oct. 26, brings the Pacers to Milwaukee, then Houston on Oct. 28 and Cleveland on Oct. 31.

When do the Bucks play the 76ers?

The Bucks visit the 76ers tonight, Oct. 24, on NBA TV. Milwaukee is 0-2 and Philadelphia is 2-0.

What is the Bucks' schedule this week?

After Philadelphia, Milwaukee hosts the Pacers on Oct. 26, the Rockets on Oct. 28 and the Cavaliers on Oct. 31. All three are at home.

By the Bucks Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.