PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid crashed Matisse Thybulle’s homecoming.
The 76ers All-Star center sank a 14-foot turnaround jumper with 1.1 seconds left to cap the Sixers’ 120-119 comeback victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Sixers battled back from a 21-point deficit to improve to 44-22 and extend their winning streak to four games. In the process, the Sixers snapped a two-game skid at the Wells Fargo Center.
Embiid led all scorers with 39 points to go with seven rebounds and four assists.
But this night was about Thybulle’s return.
The Blazers swingman was back in the arena he called home Friday night, facing his former teammates.
It was an evening that began with him embracing Paul Reed, Sixers coaches, staff members, and the Philadelphia media 2 1/2 hours before the game.
“I was talking to some people who have also experienced it. It’s like a bit of an out-of-body experience,” Thybulle said of returning to face his former team for the first time since being traded to the Blazers on Feb. 9.
“To say it’s weird, I can definitely relate to that sentiment,” he continued. “And for me, it’s just trying to be present and enjoy it for what it is, as weird as it is to be in the visitor’s locker room and now be in enemy territory where I used to call come.”
But what began as a weird night turned into a heartrbeaker.
Embiid knotted the score, 114-114, with a pair of foul shots with 2 minutes, 50 seconds left. But Damian Lillard drained a corner jumper over Embiid to put the Blazers up two points with 1:20 to play. After Tyrese Maxey knotted the score, Jusuf Nurkić scored on a three-point play to give Portland a 119-116 advantage.
But Maxey closed the gap to one with a pair of foul shots. And the Sixers had a chance to win with 7.2 seconds left.
Embiid got the ball after the timeout and gave the Sixers their first lead of the game. Portland (31-36) had a chance with 1.1 left. However, Lillard couldn’t get a shot off on the final possession.
Thybulle had five points, two rebounds, one assist, and a block against his former team. He was a plus-14 in 19 minutes.
Anfernee Simons finished with 34 points while making 8 of 12 3-pointers after missing the last four games with a sprained right ankle. Lillard has 22 points on just 6 of 15, including going 2 of 8 on 3s.
Early on, it appeared the Sixers would be doomed by Portland’s 3-point shooter. The Blazers made 11 of 19 3s in the first half before making just 4 of 17 in the second half.
James Harden had 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Sixers.
Warm welcome for Thybulle
The last Blazers starter introduced, Thybulle received a loud applause.
Then the Sixers had video tribute for him during the first timeout with 7 minutes, 13 seconds left in the opening quarter. Thybulle received a standing ovation from a large portion of the sellout crowd.
On the court, the fourth-year veteran had a quiet quarter.
He provided solid defense playing in the front of the Blazers zone. Offensively, he was positioned mostly in the corner behind the 3-point line. When not there, Thybulle was positioned at the dunker’s spot.
He had zero shot attempts, one assist, and one rebound before heading to the bench with 3:52 left in the quarter. Thybulle was a plus-16 during that initial 8:08 stint.
He checked back into the game with 5:43 before intermission. At the 4:34 mark, he drained a corner 3-pointer on his first attempt. Thybulle ended up a plus-25 in 14 first-half minutes.
Then he scored on a dunk to put the Blazers up 18 points (76-58) two minutes into the second half.
Back in No. 4
Thybulle wore No. 4 at Eastside Catholic School near Seattle and at the University of Washington because it was his late mother’s favorite number. He wanted to wear it as a Sixer to continue honoring Elizabeth, who died on Feb. 2, 2015, after a two-year fight with leukemia.
However, he was forced to wear No. 22 for 2+2 for the Sixers because No. 4 (Dolph Schayes) is retired. But he scooped up the number after being traded to Portland.
