Josh Richardson Steps Up, Damian Lillard Just Too Much!

(Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP)

The Sixers (42-28) came into tonight winners of three straight looking to beat the Portland Trailblazers (33-39). The Blazers quickly jumped out to a 13-7 lead in the first quarter. Joel Embiid left the game with a left ankle injury. The Sixers look as they were going to lay down as Damian Lillard would have his way with 14 first-quarter points. Things were looking very bleak, to say the least.

First Quarter Score: Blazers 33 – Sixers 19

Something happened to Joel Embiid. He was not moving well and Brett Brown just took a timeout to get him out of the game.
— Rich Hofmann (@rich_hofmann) August 9, 2020

At around the 8-minute mark in the second quarter, the Blazers took a 44-28 lead in what looked to be a rout. The Sixers punched back with a 16-6 run to get themselves back in the game. Josh Richardson was leading the way and couldn’t miss. As a team, they scored 39 second-quarter points and showed they had some fight left in the tank. The Blazers looked impossible to guard with the paint wide open. Could they keep up?

Halftime Score: Blazers 67 – Sixers 58

Shockingly the Sixers held the Blazers to just 24 third-quarter points. Josh Richardson dominated with 12 points in the quarter bringing his total to 28. Shake had 7 in the quarter with Harris (16 points) and Horford (15 points) playing solid ball too. The Blazers were struggling from three as a team (31.4% for the game). Damian Lillard continued to keep them in it.

Third Quarter Score: Sixers 92 – Blazers 91

.@J_Rich1 –

Thank you. pic.twitter.com/Ctqld7it2b
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) August 10, 2020

The 4th quarter opened up with Josh Richardson on the bench. Alec Burks stepped right in with some big shots in the 4th. He scored 12 in the quarter to finish with 20. Josh Richardsons’ great play just wasn’t enough for the Sixers. Damian Lillard finishing with 51 points was the clutch player we hear about on the west coast. In crunch time, he put the Blazers on his back and the Sixers had no one to guard or stop him.