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Sixers-Trail Blazers preview: Seeking to sweep season series vs. Portland for first time since 2008-09

C.J. McCollum will look to improve upon his five-point performance against the Sixers on Nov. 22.

Portland’s CJ McCollum, right, will try to rebound from his poor shooting performance against the Sixers.
Portland’s CJ McCollum, right, will try to rebound from his poor shooting performance against the Sixers.Read moreHannah Foslien / AP

76ers (15-18) at Portland Trail Blazers (17-16)

Thursday at 10:30 p.m., at Moda Center

Talking points

A victory would enable the Sixers to sweep their two-game season series against the Blazers for the first time since the 2008-09 season.  Back then, they prevailed, 100-79, at the Wells Fargo Center on Jan. 14, 2009, and then escaped with a 114-108 overtime victory in Portland on March 23.

Last month, Nov. 22, the Sixers took a 101-81 lopsided victory over the Blazers thanks in large part to shutting down shooting guard C.J. McCollum. He scored a season-low five points on 1-for-14 shooting. Holding him to fewer than 10 points for a second time will be tough.

How to watch and follow the game

  1. TV and streaming: TNT

  2. Radio: 97.5 FM

  3. Twitter: @PompeyOnSixers; @NBASarah

Starting lineups

Sixers (15-18)

33 Robert Covington SF 6-9  14.6 ppg. 6.1 rpg

9 Dario Saric PF 6-10  12.7 ppg. 6.9 rpg.

21 Joel Embiid C 7-2 23.8 ppg. 11.1 rpg.

17 JJ Redick SG 6-4  16.8 ppg. 3.4 apg.

25 Ben Simmons PG 6-10 16.8 ppg. 7.6 apg.

Coach: Brett Brown (fifth season, 90-271)

Injury report: Markelle Fultz (right shoulder rehabilitation, out); Furkan Korkmaz (Lisfranc fracture, out).

Blazers  (17-6)

1 Evan Turner SF 6-7 7.8 ppg 2.3 apg.

8 Al-Farouq Aminu PF 6-9 9.3  ppg. 7.0 rpg.

27 Jusuf Nurkic C 7-0 14.5  ppg. 7.4 rpg.

3 CJ McCollum SG 6-3 20.7 ppg. 4.0 rpg.

0 Damian Lillard G 6-3 25.2 ppg. 6.4 apg.

Coach: Terry Stotts (10th season, 355-371)

Injury report:  TBD

Head to head

The Sixers have a 58-52 series advantage.

Coming games

Saturday: 9 p.m., at Pepsi Center, Sixers at Denver Nuggets

Sunday:  8 p.m., at Talking Stick Resort Arena, Sixers at Phoenix Suns

Jan. 3: 7 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, San Antonio Spurs at Sixers

Jan. 5: 7 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Detroit Pistons at Sixers

Jan. 11: 3 p.m., at The 02 Arena, Boston Celtics at Sixers

Published 
    Keith Pompey
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    As the Sixers beat reporter, I provide daily coverage, perspective, a social media presence and long-form takeout pieces about one of the NBA's young emerging teams.