(AP)

At the start of the week, the 76ers bench featured never-healthy veteran Kwame Brown and one of the league’s worst returns from its collective of reserves.

Friday night, a funny thing happened: The Sixers actually got something from its second-stringers.

The Sixers’ bench pulled its weight in a 115-107 overtime victory over Milwaukee. The reserves accounted for 35 points on 14-for-25 shooting, to go with 18 rebounds and 12 assists. The group was led by undrafted wing Hollis Thompson, who shot 7-for-9 from the floor for 16 points in 21 minutes.

Thompson turned in two of the game’s finer plays: a second-quarter alley-oop dunk, off a pass from Tony Wroten, on which Thompson’s chin was at rim-level, and a 3-pointer in overtime that pushed the game out of the Bucks’ reach.

The contributions of the Sixers’ bench players were a far cry from what they’ve averaged coming into their game against Milwaukee. The Sixers’ second unit had been posting fewer than 16 points per game, the fifth-worst average in the league.

“Hollis had a big night,” said Evan Turner, who scored eight of the Sixers’ 13 points in overtime.

Other players chipping in off the bench were: Lavoy Allen (nine points, eight rebounds, 34 minutes), Elliot Williams (six points, 14 minutes) and Tony Wroten (six assists, 11 minutes).

Williams and Lorenzo Brown were signed Wednesday to replace Darius Morris and Kwame Brown, who were waived. Those two guards already appear to be upgrades, as Williams was a player without a contract anywhere and Brown was playing for Springfield (Mass.) in the D-League.

(AP)

The 76ers waived center Kwame Brown and guard Darius Morris Wednesday, making room for guards Elliot Williams and Lorenzo Brown, for whom the terms of the contracts are unknown.

Kwame Brown, pictured, who had yet to play this season while battling a right hamstring strain, is due $3 million. Morris, who averaged 6.9 points in 16.8 minutes in 12 appearances, will make $1.06 million.

“Never a fun day to have to do that, but this is the stage we’re in,” Sixers GM Sam Hinkie said on the roster moves. “We’ll continue to evaluate players and find ones that can help us move forward and find others on our radar that we can add to our group.”

Williams (6-5, 190), taken 22^nd overall by Portland in the 2010 NBA draft, wasn’t affiliated with any team when he got the call to join the Sixers. He had been working out in his hometown of Memphis, after playing with the Cleveland Cavaliers in training camp. He said he knows Memphis guys and new Sixers teammates Thad Young and Arnett Moultrie. Williams played in 24 games with the Trail Blazers in the 2011-12 seaon.

Lorenzo Brown (6-5, 186), selected 52^nd overall by Minnesota in the 2013 draft, was with the D-League’s Springfield Armor when contacted by the Sixers. He said he spent his Tuesday afternoon driving to Philadelphia, and took a physical Wednesday morning. Brown played his college ball at N.C. State.