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Unable to close the deal in Philly

PHILADELPHIA — Chalk this one up as a mental defeat for the Milwaukee Bucks.

In the eyes of coach Scott Skiles, the mental focus of his team was badly lacking, especially in the closing minutes, of the Bucks’ 105-95 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night at the Wachovia Center.

The score was tied at 89 with 5 minutes, 45 seconds left but the playoff-bound 76ers went on a 10-0 run to propel themselves to the victory.

“We have multiple people just mentally losing it on us right now in key moments and it’s hurt us,” he said.

Not that it was the first time it has happened this season.

“It’s been a seasonlong thing,” Skiles said. “It’s something that obviously we have to address. Part of being a good club is being mentally resilient, knowing your job and knowing where you’re supposed to be and carrying it out. That’s part of being professional and it’s been part of our season.

“Even when we’re healthy—I know that’s a big thing that we’re not healthy and this is why our record is the way it is and that certainly has something to do with it—but even more so, you have to be ready at all times out there. If you relax, your opponent will take advantage of you. The good teams will anyway and we relax a little bit too much.”

The Bucks played well early and led by 11 points in the second quarter and by nine at halftime after shooting 56.1 percent in the half.

It was anyone’s game with 5:45 left but it was the 76ers who seized the moment.

Marreese Speights scored on a putback and Andre Iguodala threw down a fast-break dunk. Andre Miller sank two free throws and Lou Williams scored on a fast-break layup. Speights hit a jumper and the Bucks were on their heels. Philadelphia extended its lead to 13 with 1:17 left. The Bucks missed three shots and had two turnovers during the 76ers’ 10-0 spurt.

“We didn’t execute like we did early in the game,” Bucks veteran forward Malik Allen said. “Our spacing wasn’t as good. We couldn’t get organized fast enough at some points of the game. It snowballed and good teams like that take advantage. There comes a point in the game where your focus has to be sharper, especially against a team like that. They play well at home .”

Said Skiles, “It took them awhile to really, really exploit us but they did.”

Guard Ramon Sessions, coming off his triple-double game the night before against the Los Angeles Lakers, led Milwaukee with 18 points and 10 assists. Five others scored in double figures for the Bucks, who had a rough night on the boards and saw Philadelphia turn 15 turnovers in 23 points.

Philadelphia got 21 points from Williams, 20 from Iguodala, and 18 points and 11 assists from point guard Andre Miller. The 76ers scored 42 points in the paint and enjoyed a decided edge at the foul line.

And, as the Lakers did to the Bucks one night earlier, the 76ers turned it up down the stretch.

“There were a lot of small, little mistakes down the stretch,” Bucks forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute said. “We were turning the ball over and they’re the best team in the league in converting turnovers into points. We made a lot of mistakes. Small details and mistakes on defense probably cost us the game the end.”