The Philadelphia 76ers were back in action on Tuesday night for the second leg of a back-to-back, going up against the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks

Similar to their matchup with the New York Knicks, the shorthanded Sixers fought the good fight against Giannis Antetokounmpo and company. It was a close game down the stretch, but the Sixers fell short, suffering their second straight loss by a final of 118-109.

Here are some observations from the Sixers' close defeat to the Bucks.

3. Role players continue to step up in time of need 

For a team that is missing its Big Three, the Sixers have done a tremendous job remaining competitive. The group refuses to roll over due to the circumstances and has made opposing teams earn their wins. 

The impressive run would not be possible if not for the enhanced play from the supporting cast. The Sixers' shock-troopers have collectively done a great job doing what is needed to fill the void left by the sidelined players. Up until the final minutes of the contest, the Sixers had the Bucks on the ropes. 

Notable standouts included Shake Milton (20 points, six assists), Andre Drummond (17 points, 20 rebounds), and Georges Niang (21 points, 5-of-7 3FG). No matter who is in the lineup on any given night, the Sixers feel they can beat anyone, and the performances they've put on have been a testament to that. 

2. Paul Reed holds his own in tough matchup 

Being without guys like Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris is hard enough, let alone when facing a dominant force like Giannis. Due to a lack of size among the available players, Reed got the start and was tasked with guarding the two-time MVP. 

For what it's worth, Reed held his own defending Giannis, who still finished the night with 31 points and 16 rebounds, but that is expected from a player of his caliber. Reed did all he could to make like tough for the reigning Finals MVP and even had a nice highlight block. 

Being asked to defend a player like Giannis is a big ask for any player, especially for a second-year player like Reed. That said, he embraced the challenge and did a better job than some might have expected. 

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1. Tyrese Maxey's motor refuses to run out 

The player of the game for the Sixers is without a doubt Maxey. Despite playing close to 40 minutes yet again, the second-year guard continued to do all he can to provide any sort of spark for the Sixers. 

Many have focused on Maxey's facilitation this season, but his performance against the Bucks was a reminder of how special of a talent he is scoring the ball. The 21-year-old ended the night with a team-high 31 points to go along with five rebounds and four assists. 

It is a miracle Maxey can still play long stretches at this point, let alone go off for a big scoring night like he did against the Bucks. He has established himself as a hard worker earlier on, but his recent stretch has been spectacular. No moment is ever too big for Maxey, and he will always step up when called upon by Sixers coach Doc Rivers. His performance against the Bucks was a good glimpse of his limitless potential.