Blazers Use Game for 3-Point Practice, Beat Sixers 114-93

By Max Rappaport, Sixers.com

PORTLAND –– Sometimes a loss can be chalked up to miscues down the stretch or a prolonged scoring drought early in the game. Other times, it’s issues with transition defense or poor rebounding that makes the difference. But some nights, you just have to shake the opposition’s hand and congratulate them on a game well played. When a team attempts 43 three-pointers and makes 18 of them, it’s probably one of those nights.

“I thought in the first half, we gave them a lot of open looks,” said veteran forward Luc Mbah a Moute after the game. “And [after that] they got confidence and started making a lot of threes.”

Philadelphia was able to keep it close early on, forcing some early turnovers and seeing some open three-point looks rim out for the Blazers. But after finding themselves down just 27-24 at the end of the opening frame, the Sixers experienced the reality of the Trail Blazers’ deadly perimeter attack.

After going 2-for-5 from deep in the first quarter, the Blazers went 16-for-38 the rest of the way and knocked down 12 threes in the second and third combined. Their 18 made threes were a season high.

“When you know how you’re going to get hit, and you [don’t] do the job you need to do to give yourself a chance, it’s discouraging,” said head coach Brett Brown. “There were so many mental mistakes… and those are the things we’ll learn from.”

Tony Wroten led the way with 22 points on 7-of-13 shooting to go along with four assists, four rebounds, and a pair of steals. Michael Carter-Williams finished with 17 points (8/20 FG), six rebounds, and five assists, and Nerlens Noel had eight points (4/9 FG), seven rebounds, four steals, and two blocks in 28 minutes.

The Blazers were led by Damian Lillard and Wesley Matthews, who combined to go 10-for-22 from beyond the arc for 53 points. Joel Freeland finished with six points on 3-of-7 shooting to go along with a career-high 17 boards.

Up Next

It’s a quick turnaround for the Sixers, who travel to Salt Lake City to take on the Jazz on Saturday at 9pm (EST). Catch the game on The Comcast Network and 97.5 The Fanatic FM.