The 76ers (29-15) seek the first win of their five-game road trip on Monday against the Portland Trail Blazers (13-33). The Sixers won the first meeting in Philadelphia on Oct. 29 by a final score of 126-98. The rematch marks the front end of a road back-to-back for the Sixers, who will visit Golden State on Tuesday. The Blazers, meanwhile, will be playing their second game in as many nights after falling to the Chicago Bulls on Sunday. Philadelphia aims to get back in the win column after a valiant effort in defeat Saturday in Denver, playing without Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, De’Anthony Melton, Mo Bamba, and Robert Covington.
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After a heroic effort in a loss on Saturday in Denver, Philadelphia hopes to turn things around. They will be without Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, De’Anthony Melton, Mo Bamba, and Robert Covington.
After shooting 67% from the floor at halftime, the Sixers were only two points behind the Nuggets. They then led 88-86 going into the fourth quarter against the much favored Nuggets.
Between the latter two quarters, Denver head coach Michael Malone said, “Give them credit.” “They launched themselves into a fierce attack from the jump ball. Since all of their guys were gone, I believe we got up early and assumed the evening would be simple, but it hasn’t been.
In the fourth quarter, the Nuggets outscored Philadelphia 25-17 to win 111-105.
“They performed admirably, evidently engaging in combat,” Nick Nurse remarked of his depleted Sixers. “We played quite physical, I thought. [Jamal] Murray made a few early mistakes, but we mostly corrected things. We had a brief period of time during which three of our attempts from really close range went in and out, but overall, we were really making terrific shots, and that is likely what decided the outcome of the game.”
In addition to setting a new career high with thirty points, Paul Reed became the first 76er to play at Denver and record thirty or more points and thirteen or more rebounds since Chris Webber in December of 2005.
Reed remarked, “It felt good.” In the end, it seemed like getting out there and attempting to prevail. I had the attitude tonight that I had to do whatever it took to try and win.”
The Sixers’ road trip comes to an end on Thursday in Utah before they begin a three-game homestand (BKN, DAL, and GSW) on Saturday night. This comes after their back-to-back games against Portland and Golden State.
OPPOSITE PERSPECTIVE
After falling to Chicago 104-96, Portland comes into the second night of their home back-to-back with a 13-33 record.
With 24 points, Jerami Grant led all scorers in the loss, while Deandre Ayton finished with a 22-point, one-rebound double-double (just one short of his season high). For the Blazers, Malcolm Brogdon contributed 16 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals.
Their two highest scorers, Grant and Anfernee Simons, each average over 20 points per game. Ayton pulls down ten rebounds on average.
On Wednesday, Damian Lillard returns to Portland as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Portland inactives from the previous night were Shaedon Sharpe (lower abdominal strain), Moses Brown (left wrist fracture), and Robert Williams III (torn right knee ligament).
The Sixers’ injured players are Kenneth Lofton Jr. (personal reasons), Robert Covington (left knee bone bruise), and De’Anthony Melton (back; lumbar spine stress response). On the injury report going into gameday morning, the team classified Tyrese Maxey (left ankle sprain), Joel Embiid (left knee soreness), and Tobias Harris (illness) as questionable.
During his career-best performance against the Nuggets, Reed ended with a game-high 30 points (14-21 FG, 2-4 3FG), a season-high 13 rebounds, and two steals in 42 minutes.
Kelly Oubre Jr.In 40 minutes of play, Oubre Jr. scored 25 points (9-17 FG, 1-4 3FG, 6-7 FT), pulled down five boards, had four assists, and blocked two shots.
Beverley recorded his first double-double of the year with 17 points (6-12 fg, 1-3 3fg, 4-4 ft) and a season-high 11 assists in 36 minutes while filling in for Tyrese Maxey (ankle) as the starting point guard for the squad.
Marcus Morris, Jr.After a foot ailment, Morris Sr. returned to the lineup and scored all 17 of his points in the first half of the game against Denver. Overall, he shot 7 for 16 in the match.
“Not only does Joel Embiid not play, but we also need to give Paul Reed credit for the excellent play he did for them, so we don’t really need to talk about him. In addition to fighting and hitting the glass, he also had excellent ball striking.
Head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, Nick Nurse:
“Paul Reed was excellent. He took all that was at his disposal and looked at the basket on everything with a great deal of confidence. Since they won’t likely be covering him too much from the 3-point line, he manages to knock down a few, provide some solid, tough finishes, and make a few jump shots. Once more, he simply accepted all that was offered to him.”
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