As Jabari Walker went through his pregame warmup Monday, a member of the Blazers’ cheer squad exclaimed “Jabari’s back!” He spent postgame lingering with his former teammates and staff. But he could not play in his return to Portland, when the shorthanded Sixers could have used him. More 👇🏻

As Jabari Walker went through his pregame warmup Monday, a member of the Blazers’ cheer squad exclaimed “Jabari’s back!” He spent postgame lingering with his former teammates and staff. But he could not play in his return to Portland, when the shorthanded Sixers could have used him. More 👇🏻

Jabari Walker was back in Portland Monday, but could not play because he has exhausted all 50 active NBA games allowed on his two-way contract. How’s he feeling? “The energy from management is all positive, and it's just a matter of time, it feels like.” www.inquirer.com/sixers/jabar...

FINAL: Blazers 135, Sixers 118. Great first half for the shorthanded Sixers completely unraveled in the third quarter. Still a successful 3-2 West road trip, though they're likely still kicking themselves over that Lakers loss. Maxey with 30. Up next: Wednesday vs. Knicks, then the All-Star break.

Why, Tiago?

Blazers crowd pumped for the incoming Yang Hansen minutes.

The Sixers came into the night with a league-worst -16.4 net rating in the 3rd quarter this year. The next closest above .500 team is the Miami Heat at -7. Won't get better after getting destroyed 49-22 in the 3rd by Portland.

C'mon y'all

Time Lord corner 3 x 2 (It is now a 113-85 Blazers lead)

Per the video board, Camara is up to a career-high 29 points on 9-of-10 from the field and 8-of-9 fr0mom three-point range.

Maxey is uncharacteristically heated at the referee after he thought he was fouled a bit ago. Ripped off his arm sleeve and tossed it while heading to the bench during the timeout.

I can say I did not have a Camara heater on the Bingo card tonight. He's 8-of-9 from three-point range now.

Third-quarter Sixers have arrived, though obviously more excusable tonight given how shorthanded they are. And the Blazers are a red-hot 17-of-34 from three-point range. Timeout Nurse, with Portland suddenly up 87-72 at the 8-minute mark.

Sixers 65, Blazers 64. Valiant effort by the shorthanded Sixers so far, on the end of a five-game trip. Oubre with 16 points, 4 steals and 3 rebounds. Maxey also with 16 and a couple eye-popping floaters.

Nine points and two assists for Watford, who started tonight in place of Barlow and has been a complementary offense-initiator.

Great ball movement on this possession, too.

Timeout Blazers after an Edgecombe three extends the Sixers' lead to a game-high 53-43 midway through the second. Credit the Sixers for playing with this much pop at the end of a five-game trip and while shorthanded.

Andre Drummond corner 3!

Also Beauchamp time. Nurse going deeeep in the bench tonight.

This is called looking on the bright side!

Sixers beginning the second quarter with a totally-normal lineup of Edgecombe-Lowry-Edwards-Watford-Drummond.

Sixers 31, Blaxers 29 at the end of the first. Maxey was clapping his hands in frustration (but smiling) after missing that three at the buzzer. He's got 14 points.

Maxey is back in the game, and does not appear to have anything on his hand (but our media seats are decently high up here)

Tyrese Maxey is getting his hand looked at during this timeout, after diving into the crowd.

Kyle Lowry minutes incoming.

Justin Edwards is the first sub for the shorthanded Sixers tonight.

Strong start for Watford stepping into a starting forward spot. Backed down his defender for a spinning bucket, made a runner off the glass and just had a nice dish to Drummond inside.

Embiid is out with right knee injury management, while Grimes and Barlow are both ill.

Joel Embiid (knee injury management) and Dominick Barlow (illness) are also OUT tonight.

With Quentin Grimes out tonight, more offense-initiating responsibilities could fall on Trendon Watford. Wrote about his growing role after the Saturday’s win over the Suns 👇🏻

Quentin Grimes (illness) is OUT, per Sixers.

Grimes is here in the locker room during the period open to the media, but in street clothes for now.

Joe Embiid and Quentin Grimes are still listed as questionable to play tonight. Nick Nurse said Grimes’ illness popped up at shootaround. He included Kyle Lowry among those who could see more/any minutes tonight, and added they have the option to go big instead.

Tiago Splitter says Deni Avdija is “probably” playing.

Whenever Trendon Watford “wasn’t the most happy” while injured or out of the rotation, Tyrese Maxey assured him that, on teams vying for playoff positioning, rotations will fluctuate throughout the season. “You’ve got to be ready,” Maxey told Watford. “Your number will be called. It’s inevitable” 👇🏻

Whenever Trendon Watford “wasn’t the most happy” while injured or out of the rotation, Tyrese Maxey assured him that, on teams vying for playoff positioning, rotations will fluctuate throughout the season. “You’ve got to be ready,” Maxey told Watford. “Your number will be called. It’s inevitable” 👇🏻

Howdy from Sixers shootaround in Portland, the end of a five-game West trip. When asked about the possible energy letdown on a “getaway” game, Tyrese Maxey quipped: “I don’t think this team’s gonna have that problem”

Tyrese Maxey will take part in the 3-point contest at All-Star weekend (Saturday, Feb. 14th at 5 pm eastern).

Story from Phoenix on a playfully salty Trendon Watford, who still believes he got that wild end-of-shot-clock three-pointer off in time but is providing much-needed ballhandling to the Sixers “Extremely smart basketball player, and he does all the little things." www.inquirer.com/sixers/sixer...

FINAL: Sixers 109, Suns 103. Sixers built a big lead and needed to hold off the Suns late. Embiid with 33 points and 9 rebounds. Maxey with 29-9-6. Sneaky-good game off the bench from Trendon Watford. Sixers are 3-1 on this West road trip, which ends Monday in Portland.

This last minute of regulation

Devin Booker has baited Kelly Oubre into two fouls on three-pointers in the last minute, keeping this one alive.

Welp, now that basket has been overturned. Just like his and-1 that was overturned to an offensive fouls. But then comes out of the timeout and immediately hits the jumper.

That end-of-shot-clock three-pointer was a highlight play for Watford, but he has been impactful all over tonight. First guy off the bench, fourth ballhandler, seven rebounds in 24 minutes. And it'll be needed throughout this stretch without Paul George.

Tyrese Maxey. Cold-blooded.

Sixers 81, Suns 71 at the end of the third. Sixers led by as many as 19 but -- stop me if you've heard this before -- let the Suns chip away. Embiid with 26 and 9. Maxey with 16 points on 6-of-15 shooting with 6 assists and 6 rebounds. Oubre also with 16.

Remember when Kelly Oubre and Dillon Brooks were almost in the same three-team trade until people could not settle on which Brooks was supposed to be in it? #neverforget

Spice!

Edgecombe picks up his fourth foul with 7:50 to play in the third. Nurse leaving him in there for now.

Halftime: Sixers 58, Suns 47. Sixers led by as many as 16 points before Phoenix finally got some shots to fall later in the second. Maxey with 14-4-4. Embiid with 17 points and 6 rebounds.