76ers Fall to Trailblazers in Season Opener

The Sixers couldn't push past Portland for the win. They lost 107-103.

As the Portland Trail Blazers' lead dwindled, coach Nate McMillan decided to pick up the pace.

Portland pushed the tempo late in the second half with a smaller quicker lineup and beat the Philadelphia 76ers 107-103 in the season opener for both teams. 

Gerald Wallace had 21 points and nine rebounds for the Blazers. Wesley Mathews added 16 points.

Reserve Lou Williams had 12 of his 25 points in the second quarter and two clutch 3-pointers at the end for the Sixers, who are 0-1 on their season-opening five-game road trip. Andre Igoudala had 22 points and eight rebounds. The Sixers shot 48 percent from the field, but the Blazers took 97 shots to Philadelphia's 83.
 
"They are a good team and they take away a lot of things with their energy and their defense," Philadelphia's Elton Brand said.


The 76ers got within 72-70 on Brand's jumper near the end of the third, but the Blazers got a spark from their small lineup, sliding Aldridge and Wallace to center and power forward and getting up and down the floor faster. Jamal Crawford, Wallace, Matthews and Nicolas Batum all hit 3-pointers to put the Blazers up 95-80.

The Sixers weren't dead, though. Williams scored 10 straight for Philly, including back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the lead to 106-103 with 16 second remaining. The game wasn't over until Igoudala missed a 3-pointer and Raymond Felton made one of two free throws to ice it.

"Our competitive will kept us in the game," Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said. "Our competitive will was strong; our execution has to get better."

Philadelphia overcame a 3-13 start last year to finish 41-41. The Sixers lost to Miami in the first round of the playoffs last season. Leading scorer Igoudala returned despite rumors that he might be traded.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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