Milwaukee Bucks 90- 88 Philadelphia 76ers: Wesley Matthews sinks 3-pointer against James Harden

Wesley Matthews hit a three-pointer with 23.8 seconds left to lift the Milwaukee Bucks past the host Philadelphia 76ers 90-88 on Thursday.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 21 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists and three blocked shots, while Brook Lopez added 17 points in the team’s season opener. Grayson Allen scored 12 points and Bobby Portis had 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The Bucks played without Khris Middleton (left wrist), Joe Ingles (left knee) and Pat Connaughton (right calf).

Philadelphia’s James Harden scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 31 points

James Harden of Philadelphia scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 31 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. Harden missed a short jumper with four seconds left as the Sixers took their second consecutive loss to start the season.

Joel Embiid added 15 points and 12 rebounds, but shot 6-for-21, and Tyrese Maxey also had 15 points for Philadelphia. Tobias Harris took down 10 rebounds.

Matthews hit a 3-pointer with 3:09 left in the second quarter and the Bucks led 41-37.

Embiid and Maxey scored on consecutive possessions and the game was tied.

Philadelphia 76ers Tyrese Maxey dribbles against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night

Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 led the Bucks with 21 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists

The Bucks had a 47-45 lead at halftime, thanks in large part to Antetokounmpo’s 13 points on 5-for-6 shots.

The game tightened defensively midway through the third, with Lopez blocking Embiid on the rim, and the Bucks led 58-55 with 5:47 left.

When Matthews dropped a runner in the lane and Portis added a heavy shot into the low post with 2:14 to go in the third, the Bucks led 66-57.

Milwaukee led 73-63 at the end of the third inning after Philadelphia’s De’Anthony Melton scored at the buzzer.

The frustration of the Sixers was apparent when head coach Doc Rivers was called for a technical foul with 10:35 remaining in the game.

Grayson Allen #12 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots over Montrezl Harrell #5 of the 76ers

After trailing 80-67, the 76ers quickly ripped a 13-0 run to level up. Harden converted a layup with 6:42 left and tied the game to 80.

Antetokounmpo broke the sprint with a spinning basket in the track 35 seconds later for a two point lead.

Harden again tied the game at 84 and Antetokounmpo missed two free throws with 2:07 left.

Harden then short jumped for an 86-84 lead, but Allen drove to the basket and equalized with 1:10 left.

Two foul shots from PJ Tucker gave Philadelphia a two-point lead with 32.9 seconds left before Matthews sank his winning basket.

Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks passes through the first quarter of the game