Portland Trail Blazers vs. Philadelphia 76ers Preview

Portland Trail Blazers (13-10) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (18-7)

The Portland Trail Blazers are back home at the Moda Center, where they will take on the Philadelphia 76ers. It’s only been about a week since Portland faced the 76ers in Philadelphia and in a feat no one was expecting, the badly-injured Blazers took down the number one team in the East on their home court. Now the Blazers are back in Portland with fewer injuries and looking to do it again!

Thursday, February 11 - 7:00 p.m. PT
How to watch on TV: NBCSNW, League Pass, or see games all season on fuboTV, follow on ESPN+, or the ESPN/Disney Bundle*
Blazers injuries: Zach Collins (out), CJ McCollum (out), Jusuf Nurkic (out), CJ Elleby (out) 76ers injuries: Seth Curry (doubtful), Mike Scott (out), Paul Reed (out), Rayjon Tuvker (out)
SBN Affiliate: Liberty Ballers

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What To Watch For

• A totally different game. It’s only been a week since the Blazers last took not he 76ers, but so much will be different this time. Star point guard Damian Lillard missed the game, along with 4/5 of the starting line up. The Blazers pulled off the win without a lot of their key players, but those players will be back for the rematch.
• Ben Simmons. The 76ers star guard missed the last matchup against Portland and it was a big hole for Philadelphia. He is expected to be back for this game, and that will have a big impact on how the team plays. Expect to see them step up in big ways, especially with Simmons back in the lineup.
• Gary Trent Jr. Maybe I should just leave this here, because frankly, if you aren't watching for Gary Trent Jr., are you even a Trail Blazers fan? Trent Jr. has been showing up game after game. He’s been consistent, and he’s come in clutch when the Blazers have needed him to step up. Also — he’s really fun to watch.

What Others Are Saying

Seth Curry, former Trail Blazer and current 76er is having quite a year, and it’s not going unnoticed. Michael Kaskey-Blomain writes for CBS Sports:

Seth is in the midst of his first season in Philadelphia, and he’s having a career year when it comes to shooting the basketball. In fact, Seth is on pace to set a shooting record that even Steph hasn’t accomplished. On the season so far, Seth is shooting over 50 percent from the floor, over 50 percent from long range, and 100 percent from the foul line. The man has yet to miss a free throw. On the season, he’s gone 30-for-30 from the charity stripe. If he can keep those marks up for the rest of the season, he would be the first player ever to do so.

The 76ers will not be far removed from the difficult loss to the Blazers last week, and Portland is aware of that. Trail Blazers head coach, Terry Stotts was quoted in a piece by Dwight Jaynes for NBC Sports Northwest:

“I would expect that they will have it fresh in their minds,” Portland Coach Terry Stotts said. “You know, they let one get away at home, and I would expect them to come out and play an impactful game.”