On the road, without Joel Embiid, on the first leg of a four-game west coast swing, the Philadelphia 76ers showcased their resilience. The Portland Trail Blazers dominated the first three quarters. At one point the Blazers led by 21 points.
Damian Lillard was the main catalyst, scoring a buttery 33 points on 8-for-11 shooting from deep. The Sixers’ inability to maintain a strong scheme defensively didn’t help. There were too many screens gone under, especially with Kyle O’Quinn on the floor. Lillard was waltzing around screens into wide open triples.