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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers knew precisely what was coming when Carmelo Anthony received rolling for Portland.
Anthony scored a season-high 24 factors off the bench, together with 16 within the fourth quarter, and the Path Blazers beat the Sixers 118-114 on Thursday night time.
“As soon as Carmelo will get it going, he’s nonetheless Carmelo. He reminded us of that tonight,” Rivers mentioned.
Damian Lillard had 30 factors in Portland’s fourth win in 5 video games.
Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 35 factors and 9 rebounds, and Ben Simmons added 23 factors and 11 boards. The loss snapped a four-game street profitable streak.
The Jap Convention-leading Sixers had gained six of seven, with the one defeat throughout that span coming per week in the past to the Path Blazers, 121-105. It was simply the second loss at dwelling for Philadelphia.
“I believed tonight was simply a kind of video games the place we felt like we needed to win the sport,” Anthony mentioned. “I received sizzling within the fourth quarter and made some pictures, received an amazing rhythm, gave our group a unique spark, some momentum, some vitality, and we gained the sport. We all know how necessary this recreation was for us, going up towards the highest group within the East.”
After a back-and-forth recreation, the 76ers held the sting going into the ultimate interval however Anthony hit three consecutive 3-pointers to offer the Blazers a 102-97 lead with 8:28 left.
Anthony added a pair of jumpers that made it 108-101. The Sixers got here again to slender the hole to 108-107 on Seth Curry‘s pull-up jumper and Simmons’ layup.
Tobias Harris‘ free throws knotted the sport at 109 earlier than Gary Trent Jr.‘s 3-pointer put the Blazers again in entrance. Lillard added a basket to make it 114-109 with 1:15 left.
Embiid’s pull-up closed the margin, then Curry’s 3-pointer tied it at 114 with 22.1 seconds left. Tripped by Harris, Anthony made a pair of free throws with 3.1 seconds remaining. After a timeout, Robert Covington received a deflection and steal on the inbounds play and Lillard made free throws to shut it out.
“He carried us within the fourth quarter,” Blazers coach Terry Stotts mentioned about Anthony. “He actually received on a roll and he was classic Melo. Hitting 3s, hitting some off-balance pictures, simply in an actual rhythm and he offered factors once we wanted them.”
Embiid got here in averaging 29.1 factors per recreation, good for fourth within the NBA. He averaged 34.1 factors and 10.1 rebounds during the last 9 heading into Thursday’s recreation.
Lillard was third within the league, averaging 29.4 factors a recreation. He now has 14 video games with 30 or extra factors this season.
The Blazers jumped out to a 20-13 lead, hitting six 3-pointers. However the Sixers tied the sport at 28 on Simmons’ quick jumper and pulled in entrance on Embiid’s dunk.
Portland was forward 37-36 on the finish of the opening interval. Lillard led the best way for the Blazers with 19 factors, a season excessive for 1 / 4 this season.
Anfernee Simons‘ floater gave the Blazers a 58-50 benefit with just below 5 minute left earlier than halftime.
Blazers middle Enes Kanter needed to go away the sport late within the half after he received knocked within the head by a teammate and was bleeding closely. He returned within the second half after getting stitches.
Embiid’s financial institution shot put Philadelphia up 63-60 on the break and he completed the half with 23 factors. The groups wrestled the remainder of the best way, organising the scramble within the closing minutes.
Lillard praised Covington for his heads-up play to assist seal the victory.
“He’s a kind of guys that has a knack for disrupting performs,” Lillard mentioned. “He takes possibilities.”
As for Rivers, he mentioned: “I feel I might’ve run a greater play.”
Take a look at extra on the Path Blazers
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Carmelo Anthony’s fourth quarter, Covington deflection earns Path Blazers win over 76ers initially appeared on NBCSports.com
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