PORTLAND, Oregon. – – Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers knew exactly what was coming when Carmelo Anthony started playing for Portland.
Anthony set the season’s record with 24 points off the bench, including 16 in the fourth period, and the Trail Blazers beat the Sixers 118-114 on Thursday night.
“After Carmelo starts, he is still Carmelo. He reminded us of that tonight, “said Rivers.
Damian Lillard scored 30 points in Portland’s fourth win in five games.
Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 35 points and nine rebounds, and Ben Simmons added 23 points and 11 rebounds. The defeat resulted in a four-game winning streak.
The leading Sixers of the Eastern Conference had won six out of seven, with the only loss during that period occurring a week ago for the Trail Blazers, 121-105. It was only the second home loss to Philadelphia.
“I thought tonight was just one of those games where we felt like we had to win the game,” said Anthony. “I got hot in the fourth period and did some kicks, got a great rhythm, gave our team a different spark, a little momentum, a little energy and we won the game. We know how important this game was for us, facing the top team in the East ”.
After a round-trip game, the 76ers maintained the advantage in the final period, but Anthony hit three consecutive 3-point points to give the Blazers a 102-97 lead with 8:28 remaining.
Anthony added a pair of jumpers that made 108-101. The Sixers returned to narrow the gap to 108-107 on Seth Curry’s pull-up jump and Simmons’ tray.
Tobias Harris’ free throws tied the game to 109, before Gary Trent Jr.’s 3 points put the Blazers back in front. Lillard added a basket to make 114-109 with 1:15 remaining.
Embiid’s pull-up closed the margin, so Curry’s 3 points tied for 114 with 22.1 seconds remaining. Stumbled by Harris, Anthony hit a pair of free throws with 3.1 seconds remaining. After a timeout, Robert Covington suffered a diversion and stole the play on the field and Lillard made free throws to close it.
“He carried us in the fourth period,” Blazers coach Terry Stotts said of Anthony. “He really did well and he was a vintage Melo. Hitting 3s, hitting some unbalanced shots, just at a real pace and he scored when we needed them.
Embiid averaged 29.1 points per game, good for fourth place in the NBA. He averaged 34.1 points and 10.1 rebounds in the last nine before Thursday’s game.
Lillard was third in the league, averaging 29.4 points per game. He now has 14 games with 30 or more points this season.
The Blazers jumped to a 20-13 lead, hitting six points from 3. But the Sixers tied the game at 28 on Simmons’ short jump and pulled ahead at Embiid’s dunk.
Portland was ahead by 37-36 at the end of the opening period. Lillard led the way for the Blazers with 19 points, a season high to a quarter this season.
Anfernee Simons’ floater gave the Blazers a 58-50 lead with just under five minutes to go.
Blazers center Enes Kanter had to leave the game at the end of the first half after being hit on the head of a teammate and bleeding badly. He returned in the second half after taking the points.
One stroke by Embiid put Philadelphia 63-60 at halftime and he ended the semester with 23 points. The teams fought the rest of the way, preparing for confusion in the final minutes.
TIP-INS
76ers: They came from a 119-111 victory over Sacramento to begin a four-game journey. … Philadelphia was without Shake Milton because of a sprained left ankle. He was injured at the end of the game against the Kings.
Trail Blazers: It was the first of a back-to-back for Portland. … Blazers donned their City Edition t-shirts, which honor Oregon’s Native American communities. … The Blazers were without newcomer CJ Elleby because of an illness. CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic continue to treat injuries.
COVINGTON’S BIG PLAY
Lillard praised Covington for his heads-up play to help seal the victory.
“He’s one of those guys who has a knack for getting in the way,” said Lillard. “He takes a chance.”
As for Rivers, he said, “I think I could have made a better move.”
NEXT
The 76ers visit the Phoenix Suns on Saturday.
The Trail Blazers host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.
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