Joel Embiid dominated the paint and Tyrese Maxey caught fire from deep as the Philadelphia 76ers dismantled the Portland Trail Blazers 132-98 at Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday night, improving to 23-11 and maintaining their grip on third place in the Eastern Conference.
The reigning MVP Embiid posted 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting while grabbing 12 rebounds in just 28 minutes of work. Maxey added 28 points, connecting on 7-of-10 three-point attempts as the Sixers shot a blistering 52.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Sixers Pull Away Early
Philadelphia seized control with a 38-point second quarter, outscoring Portland 73-42 through the first half. The Trail Blazers, who entered the night with the league’s second-worst record at 9-26, never recovered from the early barrage.
“We moved the ball well tonight and got great looks,” said Sixers coach Nick Nurse. “When Joel’s rolling like that and Tyrese is making shots, we’re tough to beat.”
Embiid’s efficiency stood out most. The 7-footer scored on an array of post moves and mid-range jumpers while drawing constant double teams. His 31 points came without forcing the issue, as he attempted just one three-pointer and got to the free-throw line eight times.
Trail Blazers’ Youth Movement Shows Growing Pains
Portland’s rebuilding project hit another speed bump as their young core struggled against Philadelphia’s veteran presence. Anfernee Simons led the Blazers with 22 points but shot just 8-of-20 from the field. Third-year guard Shaedon Sharpe added 16 points but committed five turnovers.
The Trail Blazers have now lost eight of their last 10 games, continuing a season-long pattern of competitive starts followed by second-half collapses. Portland was outrebounded 48-32 and allowed 18 offensive rebounds that led to 24 second-chance points for the Sixers.
“We’re learning every night,” said Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups. “These games against playoff teams show us where we need to be. The effort was there in spurts, but consistency is what separates good teams.”
Maxey’s Three-Point Explosion
While Embiid controlled the interior, Maxey provided the perimeter fireworks that turned a comfortable win into a rout. The 24-year-old guard connected on his first six three-point attempts, including three consecutive makes during a third-quarter run that pushed the lead to 35 points.
Maxey’s seven made threes matched his season high and helped the Sixers finish 23-of-44 from long range. The performance continued his strong January, where he’s averaging 26.8 points while shooting 45.2 percent from three-point range across eight games.
“Tyrese has been locked in all month,” Embiid said. “When he’s shooting like that, teams can’t just focus on me down low. It opens up everything for our offense.”
Bench Production Provides Depth
Philadelphia’s second unit contributed 42 points, led by Kelly Oubre Jr.’s 14 points off the bench. The veteran forward hit 4-of-7 three-pointers while providing energy on both ends during key stretches.
Backup center Paul Reed chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds in 18 minutes, showcasing the improved depth that has helped the Sixers win seven of their last nine games. The bench production allowed Nurse to rest his starters early, with Embiid and Maxey both sitting the entire fourth quarter.
For Portland, veteran Jerami Grant managed just 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting as the Sixers’ defense focused on limiting his effectiveness. Grant entered averaging 21.1 points per game but struggled to find rhythm against Philadelphia’s switching schemes.
Eastern Conference Implications
The victory keeps Philadelphia firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, sitting 2.5 games behind second-place Milwaukee and 1.5 games ahead of fourth-place Cleveland. With 48 games remaining, the Sixers have positioned themselves as legitimate contenders despite early-season injury concerns.
The 34-point margin of victory marked Philadelphia’s largest win of the season and their most dominant performance since a November blowout against the Lakers. The Sixers have now won 12 of their last 16 home games, establishing Wells Fargo Center as a difficult venue for visiting teams.
Philadelphia continues its homestand Friday night against the Sacramento Kings, while Portland returns home to face the Denver Nuggets on Thursday.
