Author: Matt Velazquez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The stars were out at Staples Center on Friday night. The problem for the Bucks, though, was the Lakers had two of them and they only had one.

Prolonged three-point drought and shaky defense allowed the Indiana Pacers to pull close, but the Milwaukee Bucks returned to form in second half.

A dominant 24-4 run put the Bucks on the path to a blowout 133-86 victory over the Thunder. It was their largest margin of victory of the season.

The Bucks fell in a 12-point hole but fought out of that second-quarter deficit for one of their most impressive road wins of the season in Toronto.

Giannis Antetokounmpo took it to the Sixers in a 119-98 win two days after Joel Embiid referred to himself as “the best player in the world.”

The veteran forward expects to sign with the Milwaukee Bucks, who will open up a roster spot by waiving Dragan Bender.

Philadelphia torched Milwaukee’s defense with 21 three-pointers – the team’s season-high – as the Sixers slammed the Bucks 121-109 on Christmas Day.

When Milwaukee faces off against Philadelphia, it will be the first matchup this season between two teams projected to vie for top spot in East.