The Portland Trail Blazers and Philadelphia 76ers faced each other on Monday evening with lineups few would have recognized preseason. Joel Embiid and Paul George were out for the Sixers. Tyrese Maxey would exit early in the second half as well. Deandre Ayton and Jerami Grant missed their usual starts for the Blazers. That left one traditional “star”-level player on the floor: Portland guard Anfernee Simons. As it turned out, it was enough. Simons scored 34 as the Trail Blazers overcame a slow start to defeat the 76ers 119-102.
Here are some of the factors that defined the game.