PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Damian Lillard scored a season-high 39 points to help the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 118-111 on Saturday night.
CJ McCollum added 18 points, Norman Powell had 17, and Jusuf Nurkic finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Portland improved to 8-1 at home and, at 9-8, is above .500 for the first time since Oct. 31.
Tobias Harris and Tyrese Maxey each scored 28 points for Philadelphia. Joel Embiid missed his seventh straight game after entering the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
Harris' layup cut the Blazers' lead to 97-95 at the 6:18 mark, but that was the closest the 76ers would get in the second half.
TIP INS
76ers: Philadelphia also was without Danny Green (left hamstring). And there’s been no resolution with Ben Simmons (personal reasons), who has asked to be traded.
Trail Blazers: Blazers coach Chauney Billups said he wants Lillard to be as comfortable as possible playing through his abdominal injury. After sitting out last Sunday against Denver, Lillard has played in the next three games, despite being deemed a game-time decision Saturday. “It sucks to play hurt man,” Billups said. “You can’t do a lot of the things that you’re accustomed to. But people will still play you like you’re 12 for 12 in the game.”
UP NEXT
76ers: At Sacramento on Monday night.
Trail Blazers: Host Denver on Tuesday night.
