LOS ANGELES -- The Philadelphia 76ers entered Sunday's nationally televised bout against the LA Clippers lacking considerable star power, as both Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid were sitting out because of injury.

But the 76ers did have Shake Milton -- and the former G League player proceeded to set the nets ablaze at Staples Center with an improbable performance in a 136-130 loss.

Milton, a 23-year-old shooting guard from SMU, scored a career-high 39 points on 14-of-20 shooting, including 7-of-9 from 3-point range.

Milton came out blazing with 26 points on 10-of-11 shooting in the first half, including 4-of-4 from 3-point range. At one point in the second half, Milton had made his first five 3-pointers and tied an NBA record for most consecutive 3-pointers made (13), a figure he set over the past three games.

Embiid, out with a left shoulder sprain, tweeted, "Shake!!!! BANG BANG" in support of Milton's huge game.

Shake!!!! BANG BANG

— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) March 1, 2020

Milton was originally drafted late in the second round -- 54th overall -- by the Dallas Mavericks in 2018, but he was traded to the 76ers on draft night. Milton signed a two-way contract in July of 2018 and has had three different stints with the 76ers' G League team this season alone.

Milton's G League career high is 36 points for the Delaware Blue Coats on Dec. 29, 2018.

His name -- Shake -- according to a recent NBC Sports story, is tied to his father, Myron, who grew so quick during his early years that others assumed he must have been drinking a lot of milk.

As such, the nickname "Milk Man" stuck with Myron.

And one fateful day, when Lisa Milton was 27 and pregnant, a friend touched her belly and asked how "little Shake" was doing. The nickname was a nod to his father, and it stuck ever since, NBC Sports reported.