The Moda Center in Portland buzzed with anticipation on February 9, 2026, as the Portland Trail Blazers hosted the Philadelphia 76ers in a cross-conference NBA showdown. Both teams entered the contest with plenty at stake and rosters in flux, thanks to a season-long battle with injuries and some surprising ascents from both established stars and emerging talents.
For the 76ers, this matchup marked the final stop on a grueling five-game West Coast road trip. Philadelphia had already notched impressive wins over the Clippers, Warriors, and Suns, stumbling only against the Lakers—a game in which they led for three-quarters before running out of steam. The Sixers, sitting sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 30-22 record, were favored by 3.5 points according to most sportsbooks, and the over/under was set at a hefty 228.5 points. The team’s recent form was strong, having won six of their last seven games and covering the spread in four of their last five.
Yet, the biggest pregame question surrounded the availability of Joel Embiid, Philadelphia’s perennial All-Star and reigning MVP candidate. Embiid, who’d averaged 26.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game this season, was listed as questionable due to right knee injury management. As tip-off neared, however, the Sixers announced that Embiid would be sidelined, joining Quentin Grimes and Dominick Barlow (both out due to illness) and Paul George, who continued to serve a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy.
Without Embiid, the Sixers leaned heavily on their dynamic backcourt, led by Tyrese Maxey and rookie sensation V.J. Edgecombe. Maxey, a breakout star this season, led the NBA in minutes and was sixth in the league in scoring, pouring in 28.8 points per contest to go with 6.9 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game. Edgecombe, the third-overall pick out of Baylor, had made a seamless transition to the pros, averaging 15.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. Kelly Oubre Jr., Quentin Grimes, Dominick Barlow, and Trendon Watford rounded out a supporting cast that had found its identity in recent weeks.
Philadelphia’s offensive metrics reflected their up-tempo, balanced attack: 116.7 points per game (12th in the NBA), with rankings of 12th in offensive rating, 22nd in field goal percentage, and 15th in three-point percentage. Defensively, they allowed 115.4 points per game, ranking 14th in the league, and showed particular vulnerability to opponent three-point shooting—though Portland, ranked last in three-point efficiency, didn’t pose a major threat in that department.
The Trail Blazers, meanwhile, had quietly become one of the season’s pleasant surprises. Despite a 25-28 record and a 10th-place standing in the Western Conference, Portland had won 11 of their last 19 games and entered the night riding a two-game winning streak. Their resilience was all the more impressive given a season-long injury crisis: seven players appeared on the injury report ahead of the game, including key absences like Damian Lillard (left Achilles), Kris Murray (lumbar strain), Shaedon Sharpe (left calf soreness), and Matisse Thybulle (right knee tendinopathy).
Yet, there was good news for Blazers fans. Deni Avdija, the team’s breakout star and first-time All-Star, was cleared to play despite a nagging low back strain. Avdija had blossomed into a true point-forward, averaging 25.5 points (13th in the NBA), 7.2 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game. Robert Williams III (left knee management) and Scoot Henderson (left hamstring management) were also available, bolstering a backcourt that had been in flux all season. Henderson, in particular, had impressed in his recent return, tallying 11 points, nine assists, and five rebounds in his season debut just days earlier.
“It could be the first time we see Scoot Henderson and Deni Avdija playing together,” noted a local report, highlighting the intrigue around Portland’s evolving offensive hierarchy. Acting head coach Tiago Splitter faced a strategic decision: should Avdija continue to initiate the offense as a point-forward, or would Henderson reclaim primary playmaking duties? Either way, the Blazers’ hopes rested on their ability to mesh quickly and capitalize on Philadelphia’s shorthanded lineup.
Supporting Avdija and Henderson were Jerami Grant (19.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists), Jrue Holiday (14.9 points, 6.5 assists, 4.4 rebounds), and Donovan Clingan, a rebounding machine who led the NBA with 4.7 offensive boards per game and averaged a double-double (11.4 points, 11.5 rebounds). Portland’s offense, averaging 115.8 points per game (15th in the league), thrived on pace (eighth in the NBA) but struggled with efficiency, ranking 28th in field goal percentage and dead last in three-point shooting.
Defensively, the Blazers allowed 118.0 points per game—23rd in the league—and ranked 19th in defensive rating. With so many moving pieces and young contributors, consistency had been elusive. Still, the team’s recent form and the return of key players gave hope that they could challenge a Sixers squad missing its anchor in the paint.
Oddsmakers reflected the uncertainty, with Philadelphia opening as 3.5-point favorites but the line expected to shift depending on the final injury report. By game time, the spread had narrowed to 1.5 points, and the over/under jumped to 232.5, reflecting the teams’ offensive firepower and defensive vulnerabilities. Betting projections were razor-thin, with some models forecasting a 117-116 win for the 76ers and others pointing to a high-scoring, back-and-forth affair.
As the game tipped off, all eyes were on the emerging stars. Could Maxey shoulder the load for Philadelphia, or would Portland’s Avdija and Henderson duo seize the moment at home? The answer remained in flux as the action unfolded—each possession carrying playoff implications for two teams at different stages of their journey.
Regardless of the outcome, the night was a showcase of resilience and adaptation. The Sixers, despite missing Embiid and George, continued to prove they were more than the sum of their parts, while the Blazers, battered but unbowed, looked to extend their winning streak and solidify their place in the Western Conference play-in race. The NBA season is a marathon, not a sprint, and on nights like this, every twist and turn feels magnified. Fans in Portland and Philadelphia alike will be watching closely as these two squads battle for momentum heading into the season’s final stretch.