ZCZC
BSP-04
BASKET-NBA
Anthony scores 22 as depleted Trail Blazers upset first-place Sixers
LOS ANGELES, Feb 5, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Carmelo Anthony delivered a throwback
performance on Thursday by scoring 22 points as the short-handed Portland
Trail Blazers stunned the Eastern Conference juggernaut Philadelphia 76ers
121-105.
The depleted Blazers won despite an array of injuries that got worse
earlier Thursday with the announcement that marquee player Damian Lillard was
ruled out of the contest with an abdominal strain that had been hampering him
for several games.
Portland was also missing Jusuf Nurkic (broken wrist), CJ McCollum (broken
foot) and Derrick Jones (sprained foot), among others.
But the Trail Blazers are deep in talent and it showed against the Sixers
as Gary Trent scored 24 points and Swiss Enes Kanter finished with 17 points
and 18 rebounds in the win at the Wells Fargo Center arena.
Anthony shot eight of 14, dished out five assists and drained three of four
threes.
Despite the revolving door on the infirmary this season the Blazers have
managed to win 12 of their first 20 games, including Thursday’s shocker over
the team with the best record in the Eastern Conference.
Joel Embiid scored a game high 37 points, Furkan Korkmaz had 13 and Tyrese
Maxey came off the bench to score 15 points for Philadelphia.
Embiid scored 31 of his points in the first half after an injury scare.
Embiid hyperextended his knee in the first quarter after landing awkwardly
while playing defence. He limped off the floor to received medical treatment
but returned after about three minutes.
Elsewhere, Kelly Oubre exploded for a career-high 40 points as the visiting
Golden State Warriors overpowered the Dallas Mavericks 147-116 in the opener
of a two-game set.
BSS/AFP/GMR/1252 hrs