Lillard scores 51 in Portland win as Sixers lose Embiid
Miami, Monday
Portland’s Damian Lillard poured in 51 points against a Philadelphia team missing injured stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, powering the Trail Blazers to a 124-121 NBA victory Sunday.
Lillard, taunted on social media after two key missed free throws in a Saturday loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, unleashed the 10th 50-point performance of his career and fifth of the season to pull Portland within a half-game of Memphis for eighth in the Western Conference playoff fight.
“This was different because our season was on the line,” Lillard said. “We drop this one and we don’t control our destiny. I thought we answered the call down the stretch.”
Lillard hit 16-of-28 shot from the floor, 4-of-12 from 3-point range, and 15-of-16 from the free throw line and dished out a game-high seven assists.
“He just showed the determination he has showed throughout his career,” Blazers coach Terry Stotts said.
“I don’t think anybody was concerned about how he was going to come out tonight.”
Cameroon forward Embiid was removed from the game for medical evaluation with a left ankle injury only 5:42 into the first quarter after landing awkwardly near the bottom of a basket stanchion.
He didn’t return and there was no immediate update on his status.
The setback came as the Sixers (42-28) coped with Wednesday’s loss of All-Star Aussie guard Simmons, who will undergo left knee surgery after suffering a temporary kneecap dislocation.
Portland’s Jusuf Nurkic sank two free throws with 10 seconds remaining for the final margin.
Josh Richardson, who led the Sixers with 34 points, missed a 3-pointer and the rebound was batted around to the final buzzer.
“This was a tough win but we’ll take it,” Blazers star Carmelo Anthony said. “We just had to tough it out.” -AFP
