James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on January 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images/AFP
Joel Embiid dominated a game against Jusuf Nurkic, the Philadelphia defense harassed Damian Lillard in a 6 to 21 shootout and the visiting 76ers stopped a late Portland Trail Blazers rally to win 105-95 on Thursday.
Embiid led all scorers with 32 points, and James Harden helped Philadelphia score 16 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds, his fourth double of the season. The 76ers won for the fourth time in a row on an eight-day, five-game trip that ended Saturday in Sacramento.
Coming back from a brutal first half, Lillard took home the top 25 for the Trail Blazers, who lost their second game in a row.
Embiid scored six points in the opening game, an explosive 11-2 score that gave the 76ers good control.
Joel Embiid has 30 in Portland
The Sixers lead 8 with 0:51 left in Q4.
CLOCK: https://t.co/1pomQZMAZK pic.twitter.com/Oj4Nj1MglE
– NBA (@NBA) January 20, 2023
Philadelphia continued to lead 57-34 after halftime, with Nurkic fouling three times and zero points for eight minutes and Lillard struggling to start 1-10.
A steep climb sent Portland into the 101-93 lap after Lillard’s 30-foot 3-pointer with 1:35 to go, but Harden slammed the door with a float in the lane after Embiid’s assist.
30 Points Night is Embiid’s 25th day of the season. The Sixers big man made 12 of his 22 shots and all seven of his free throws, while also finding time for nine rebounds and three highest saves of the game.
Harden compared to everyone pic.twitter.com/zUXiIaQDAT
– Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 20, 2023
Tyrese Maxey added 15 points, Tobias Harris 11 and Shake Milton 10 for the 76ers, who overcame the hosts by 50.6% to 37.6%.
Lillard successfully used 10 to 10 at the line to take most of his score one night when he misfired 10 of his 13 3-point attempts. He completed the double with 11 assists the highest of his teammates.
Jerami Grant scored 24 points for the Trail Blazers, while Nurkic scored a game-high 11 rebounds but only scored 4 points when shooting 2 to 10 in 24 minutes of fouling.
Anfernee Simons (16 points) and Nassir Little (10) also scored twice as much for Portland.
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