After suffering a catastrophic blowout at the hands of the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers hit the road on Thursday for one final game before the All-Star break. On their schedule was a nationally-televised meeting against the Milwaukee Bucks. 

This meeting of two of the Eastern Conference's top teams did not disappoint. With big shots from both sides down the stretch, it was anybody's game in the final minutes. In the end, the Sixers came away with the win, 123-120. Khris Middleton had a chance to extend the matchup to overtime but could not get his three-point attempt to fall.

Joel Embiid once again was a monster for the Sixers, as they took down the defending champions on their home floor. Here are some observations from the tight contest. 

3. Georges Niang came alive 

In what was originally considered a head-scratching decision, Sixers coach Doc Rivers inserted Georges Niang into the starting lineup. This minor tweak ended up paying major dividends as the sharpshooting forward went on to have a big night. 

Niang tallied 18 points, six rebounds, and two assists in 40 minutes of action against the Bucks. What stood out most from his performance was his ability to space the floor. He let it fly from deep 10 times and connected on five. 

After an incredible start to the season, Niang quickly regressed to the means. That being said, his showing against the Bucks was one of his best of the season. His role is likely to increase once James Harden enters the fray, and he looks ready to help do his part. 

2. Big Three led the charge 

In a high-profile matchup like this, everyone has to bring their A-game to walk away with a win. One major factor in the Sixers topping the Bucks was the play of their Big Three. Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, and Tyrese Maxey put together strong performances to lead the charge. 

Embiid was by far the biggest standout of the night, tallying 42 points and 14 rebounds on close to 67% shooting from the field. The All-Star center used the game as an opportunity to show the national audience why he should be the frontrunner for MVP this season. Maxey and Harris tied for the team's second-leading scorer, each racking up 19 points. 

They did a phenomenal job setting the tone for the rest of the team. Seeing all three players thrive in a game like this should turn some heads, given the fact they are about to add a former MVP to the lineup. 

1. Statement win 

Above all else, this was a statement win for the Sixers. Coming off a horrible outing last Tuesday, they needed to get back on track against. Many view the Bucks as the top threat to come out of the Eastern Conference, and rightfully so. The fact that the Sixers were able to go toe-to-toe with the defending champions and come away victorious is a testament to the talent and competitiveness within the group. 

While it's only one night, this is still a noteworthy win for the Sixers. They were able to erase what happened against the Celtics from their memory and will head into the All-Star break with strong momentum. Now, their primary focus can shift on integrating Harden as they prepare for a playoff push.