At the end of the regular season which has the sole stake of determining the play-offs’ posters on the side of the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia Sixers are living well despite themselves from the last rather difficult matches. After losing Ben Simmons – probably for the remainder of the season since the Australian is going to have knee surgery – Brett Brown’s side were quickly deprived of their star pivot Joel Embiid, who suffered a left ankle injury early in the match. against Portland. A fear without serious a priori since the player spent the rest of the game on the bench of his team but he was sorely missed by his family, who lost to Portland (124-121), an opponent whose initial motivation was moreover much higher.
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In contention for eighth or ninth place, synonymous with “play in” (preliminary round), the Blazers relied on a Damian Lillard of the very great nights (51 points, his fifth game of the season at at least 50 units). ) in order to get a fourth victory in six matches. A success which, combined with Memphis’ fifth setback, allowed Portland to post the same number of victories as the Grizzlies (33). San Antonio and Phoenix, 31 wins each, are the only pursuers to feed the hope of a comeback that is still difficult to envisage with two games to go (three for the Suns).
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Lillard redeemed himself
Mocked by the Los Angeles Clippers, and in particular the lodger Patrick Beverley, after having cracked on the line of free throws on Saturday (giving the victory to the Angels 122-117 at the same time), Lillard was the boss of the fourth quarter with 18 points scored on the 33 of his team. A relief for the franchise of Oregon who after an excellent start (33-19, 12th) had gradually eased to count a unit behind at the start of the last period (91-92).
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15
With 20 points scored, Carmelo Anthony made his entry into the Top 15 of the best scorers in NBA history (26,406 points), notably overtaking Paul Pierce (26,397).
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« It wasn’t really me yesterday (against the Clippers) and I wanted to perform in a certain way, liked Lillard after the meeting. We felt like we let the victory slip away, and I was largely responsible for that. So (Sunday night), I was the type “It’s not going to be like that.” “
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This awakening is costly from the standpoint of the standings for the 76ers: here is Josh Richardson’s team (34 points against Portland) sixth in the East, with a victory behind Miami (4th) and Indiana (5th) . As it stands, Philadelphia would therefore face Boston in the first round of the play-offs. Without Simmons and with a potentially diminished Embiid, the scales would inevitably tip against Philly. A victory on Tuesday against Dallas already seems crucial.
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