LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) Everything is back to normal for Damian Lillard.
The All-Star point guard scored 51 points after a frustrating finish the night before, and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 124-121 on Sunday.
On Saturday against the Los Angeles Clippers, Lillard missed a couple of free throws with 18.6 seconds to go and a 3-pointer with 9.5 seconds left in a 122-117 loss. Clippers players Paul George and Patrick Beverley were seen laughing after Lillard’s crash.
Lillard got the final laughs Sunday by scoring 18 points in the fourth quarter.
” It was not my performance yesterday really and I wanted to perform a certain way today, ” he said. ” It was like, we left one sneak that we should have had yesterday, and I’m a big part of why it came down to us. So last night I was like `That will not happen. ” ‘
Portland bounced back and pulled inside a Memphis half-game for eighth place in the Western Conference. The Trail Blazers increased their chances of qualifying for the play-in series, which will begin Saturday.
The 76ers lost much more than the game. All-Star center Joel Embiid left in the first quarter with what the team called a left ankle injury, and he did not return. He fired a shot, then stepped up and stepped awkwardly into the station. He had averaged 30 points per game since the restart.
76ers coach Brett Brown would not say whether Embiid missed time.
” I will learn more physically, ” Brown said. ” I do not know enough to comment on it. ”
It was more bad injury news for the 76ers. All-Star point guard Ben Simmons is out indefinitely with an injured left knee.
Josh Richardson scored a season-high 34 points and Alec Burks added 20 for Philadelphia. The 76ers would have gone into a tie with the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat for a fourth place finish in the Eastern Conference standings with a win.
Without their stars, the 76ers fell behind at 17 in the second quarter and kicked 67-58 at halftime.
The game is tight. Phil Horford of Philadelphia hit a 3-pointer to trim Portland’s lead to 122-121. Portus’ Jusuf Nurkic made two free throws with 10.2 seconds left to set up his team three. Richardson missed a 3-pointer for Philadelphia, and the 76ers could not get another shot after a scramble for handball.
” I thought our boys were fighting, ” Brown said. ” I really thought the spirit of the group was fantastic. We called on many different players who I think have played with a spirit and a passion that you are proud of. ”
TIP-INS
76ers: Horford suffered a technical foul in the third quarter. He scored 15 points. … Burks scored 15 points in the fourth quarter.
Trail Blazers: Lillard scored a goal in the first quarter as he rode to the hoop and shot his pass from Philadelphia’s Tobias Harris, from the backboard and into the court. … Carmelo Anthony scored 20 points and moved up to 15th place on the NBA’s career scoring list.
QUOTABLE
Lillard on dealing with pressure: ” I’m willing to risk it all, ” he said. ” If we lose, I can tackle it – arrive short like yesterday. If we win, it’s like, ‘Let’s do it again.’ I enjoy it. It’s fun. ”
AGGRESSIVE approach
Lillard made 16 of 28 shots and 15 of 16 free throws.
” I told myself I was in the game that I got out of the rip, as soon as the ball is thrown in the air, I go. I’m under attack, ” he said. ” And that was that. ”
STATLINJEN
Lillard scored 5 of 6 field goals and 5 of 6 free throws in the fourth quarter.
FOLLOWING
76ers: Play the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.
Trail Blazers: Play the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday.
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