It’s always fun when a backup gets handed additional responsibility while a starter is out, and then goes ahead and exceeds all expectations. Here’s NBC Sports Philly on the recent play of Sixers guard Shake Milton:
The second-year guard has taken over as the starting point guard with Ben Simmons out and on Sunday put up a career-high 39 points — including hitting 7 of 9 from deep — on the road against the Clippers in front of a national audience.
Milton also made history, making 13 consecutive threes over the course of three games to tie an NBA record. Brent Price and Terry Mills, both in 1996, also reached that mark…
Milton is the ninth player in franchise history to score at least 39 points in a game in his second NBA season. The last to do so was Joel Embiid, who dropped a then career-high 46 on the Lakers in 2017. Before that, you’d have to go back to Allen Iverson dropping 43 against the Timberwolves in 1998.
As a rookie last season, Milton averaged 4.4 points in 13.4 minutes per game. This season, he’s putting up 8.8 points in 17.8 minutes per game, on much-improved shooting.
The Sixers are 37-24, which is the 5th best record in the Eastern conference.
