In a game on Thursday evening that brought home a surprise season win, the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 118-114. Damian Lillard was the top scorer for Portland with 30 points, 19 of which were in the first quarter. Carmelo Anthony was the hero in this game, scoring 24 points, including 17 in the last quarter. Gary Trent Jr. also added 19 points.
The Sixers also had their fair share of high scorers. Joel Embiid had 35 points while Ben Simmons nearly tripled with 23 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.
First quarter
Three fell for Portland very early on. Nor was it that they were all easy catch-and-shoot opportunities. They made five of their first six, and they all came from pull-ups by Damian Lillard and Gary Trent Jr .. Eventually, other players joined in the fun too. Derrick Jones Jr. even had an angle of three! But something that’s bugging Portland this year is that hot shooting quarters are wiped out by mediocre defense. Some things were inevitable – like Joel Embiid making mistakes on post-ups – but if you go down on screens guarding Seth Curry, you’re not playing the game right. Ben Simmons also posed a matchup problem with his size, driving around the track for easy layups. Portland hit eight threes, but led only 37-36 after one.
Second quarter
Philly has well provoked Portland to quite a few silly offenses. Embiid is already a master at this, but even Tobias Harris got into action by shooting seven free throws in half (the team was 17 for 20 in half). It was hard to keep the Sixers in, but the good news was Portland extended their lead with the second unit. With Rodney Hood appointed as the primary ball-handler, Portland did well. He often worked his way up to the post against smaller players, scoring efficiently for most of the quarter. But Embiid was just too much. He got 15 in the second just by working in the mail. Harry Giles had four fouls in the first half and Enes Kanter got a huge cut on his eye, so let’s just say the posting options were … limited. Embiid gave the sixes a 63-60 lead on half time.
Third quarter
Philadelphia’s dynamic duo, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, caused so much trouble for Portland in the third. Embiid was just Embiid; It didn’t matter who posted Portland because he could just beat them to death. If he doesn’t, he just takes easy mid-range jumpers that make him impossible to guard. Simmons is also faster and taller than anyone on the Blazers, and he easily exposed Portland when needed. Gary Trent Jr. finding its shape again helped Portland in the third. Again, his self-creation was a big part of Portland that floated despite injuries. But Portland’s defensive battle allowed Philly to maintain a 93-89 lead at the end of the third.
Fourth quarter
So um … how do you analyze Carmelo Anthony just by deciding he’s going to take every chance? He equalized three in the first four minutes, and they were the most Melo threes ever: pull-ups without any thought. He had 17 points in the quarter and only seven of those points came on logical shots! It helped that Embiid finally started wrestling, the field of play once so much for Portland in the evening. But the real highlight of this quarter was Portland’s last inbound game. While the Sixers did everything they could to prevent Lillard from getting the ball, Melo sent the ball to Robert Covington. Lillard put in a screen to create a small parting for curling Anthony, and the vet pulled the mistake on Tobias Harris. Two free throws. Blazers lead. Covington got the bargain that sealed the match and the Blazers won 118-114.
Overcoming mismatches
Do you know what I really liked about this win? The fact that the Sixers brought Ben Simmons back into the line-up and Portland still won. Sure, the Blazers had Damian Lillard back and the Sixers for some reason have it in their team charter that they can’t make threes against the Blazers (six of 27 tonight), but even with Lillard, Philly is a nightmare on each other . theoretical.
At times it looked like things would turn out badly. Portland had to make more than 80% of their threes to fend off Embiid and Simmons by one point after the first quarter. The Australian even made a last shot practically impossible for Lillard. But despite everything, Portland pushed through and found a way to win. It was a brave victory for the Blazers.
Stay me 7o
What a game by Carmelo Anthony. After his game was about right on the track, he just absolutely exploded. It’s hard to know what to really think about it. We saw Peak Melo’s resuscitation for a moment. That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but Anthony got some hyperbolic praise tonight.
Best of all, Melo got into a rhythm by clearing those early threes. Then he’s at his best for Portland. When he got into this game, he shot 48% from outside the three-point line in the fourth quarter. When Iso Melo decides to take the post, it hurts this team. If he does it from three (or even better, just places himself in the corner), it’s a lot better. The more he does his “Three to the Dome” party the better.
Gary Trent Jr. does it again
I have touched on this a lot in previous summaries, but it is worth noting; Gary Trent Jr. takes good pictures for herself. He wasn’t always the most efficient last week, but this game showed how great it is when he’s holding a rhythm. His step-back three, in particular, is a handy tool that he takes out of his bag seemingly at will. Most importantly, it gives Lillard some scoring help in the starting grid. I want Trent to keep going even if CJ McCollum comes back.
Next one
Instant summary
Box Score
The Blazers don’t wait long for their next game, as they will face the Cleveland Cavaliers tomorrow at the Moda Center. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m. PT.