Losing to Portland a few nights back was brutal for more than one reason. Damian Lillard was out, the Philadelphia 76ers held an 18-point lead midway through the third quarter, and the officiating played a bigger role than most would have liked down the stretch.
Just look at the free throw disparity between the two teams.
Nonetheless, the Sixers deserved that loss. Joel Embiid struggled down the stretch, while the game plan in general seemed flawed. Jusuf Nurkic picked up his fifth foul with about 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter, yet finished out the rest of the game with Embiid seldom attacking him in the post.