Washington, Jan. 20 (US): Joel Embiid scored 32 points and the Philadelphia 76ers extended their winning streak to four games, all on the road, with a 105-95 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.
James Harden added 16 points and 14 assists for the Sixers, who led as many as 26 points before stopping Portland’s rally late on.
Damian Lillard scored 25 points and 11 assists for the Blazers and Jerami Grant scored 24 against his former team, reports the Associated Press.
A throw by Jusuf Nurkic closed the gap to 92-80 with 6:17 left, but Embiid answered with a dunk and a free throw. Grant narrowed it to 95-86 with 3:49 left.
Embiid made his fifth foul and Anfernee Simons made a pair of free throws to get close to 95-88.
Therese Maxie’s throw and De’Anthony Melton’s free throws put the Sixers’ lead back to double digits and Portland could catch up.
Currently on a five-game Western road trip, the 76ers have won their first four games. Philadelphia has won eight of its 10 games this month, building on an eight-game winning streak in December.
Meanwhile, Portland is down with just 3 wins in 10 games since the first of the year.
The Sixers jumped out to a 26-14 lead in the first quarter behind Embiid, who had 10 points in his first six minutes and finished the first half with 17 points.
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