The Portland Trail Blazers will be looking for a measure of redemption in today’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Here’s a look at how to watch.
If the five Orlando bubble games have taught us anything, it’s probably this: the Portland Trail Blazers are a dangerous, talented team that’s capable of beating just about any team on any given night, but are also capable of losing to just about anyone, too.
Granted the opportunity to really give themselves a puncher’s chance at the No. 8 seed, the Blazers swung and missed in yesterday afternoon’s 122-117 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The loss felt especially symbolic since it went against conventional wisdom. There was no Kawhi Leonard, nor Montrezl Harrell; the Clippers didn’t allow Paul George to play more than 30 minutes; and the Blazers had their full bubble roster in tow. Despite the leeway, they blew a 5-point lead in the final 1:39 against the Clippers’ “B-team.”
They’ll get another chance to face a disoriented contender, as they “host” the Philadelphia 76ers, winners of three straight, but losers of something much more bigger value: do-it-all All-Star Ben Simmons. Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Simmons is likely out for the season after undergoing knee surgery.
In some way, shape, or form, times will be desperate for both. The 76ers will have to adjust to life on the fly, while trying to hang steady in an Eastern Conference that could boost them to as high as the No. 3 seed, and as low as No. 6.
And Portland, as we know, are simply trying to stay alive, with competition close in their rearview for the No. 9 seed out West. And those worlds will collide later today.
In their only other meeting earlier this year, the Blazers blew a 21-point lead, losing 129-128 on a game-winning shot by Furkan Korkmaz. As for tonight’s tilt, here’s how each side is looking.
Injury Report, per CBS Sports:
— (POR) — Jaylen Adams, back (game-time decision)
— (POR) — Hassan Whiteside, hip (expected to be out until at least Aug. 9)
— (PHI) — Glenn Robinson, hip (game-time decision)
— (PHI) — Ben Simmons, kneecap (expected to be out until at least Sep. 1)
How to follow the action:
— Date: Sunday, August 9th
— Time: 3:30 PT
— How to watch: NBA TV, NBC Sports Northwest, NBA League Pass, or fuboTV
— How to listen: NBA League Pass, Rip City Radio 620 AM
Portland Trail Blazers projected lineup:
— Damian Lillard (G), CJ McCollum (G), Carmelo Anthony (F), Zach Collins (F) and Jusuf Nurkic (C)
Philadelphia 76ers projected lineup:
— Shake Milton (G), Josh Richardson (G), Tobias Harris (F), Al Horford (F), Joel Embiid (C)