Quentin Grimes gives Sixers breathing room despite missing key players

The Philadelphia 76ers proved they could compete despite a roster decimated by injuries. Without Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr., the Sixers dominated the Portland Trail Blazers 109-103 Sunday night at Wells Fargo Center, improving their record to 37 wins and 31 losses.

Quentin Grimes was the driving force behind the victory, delivering an outstanding performance with a season-high 31 points. The guard took over in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 of his points in the final period and repeatedly coming up with big plays to put the game out of reach. His late-game scoring burst proved decisive as Philadelphia closed the door on Portland.

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Justin Edwards and VJ Edgecombe perfectly complement Grimes

Justin Edwards provided a solid contribution with 21 points, confirming his recent rise. Rookie VJ Edgecombe delivered a complete performance with 18 points, 3 assists and a career-high 12 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. At just 20 years old, Edgecombe showed his composure in crucial moments, notably with a clutch mid-range bucket in the final minutes.

Quentin Grimes was asked how he was feeling after a back to back with a heavy scoring workload this weekend.

« I feel great, I could shoot more right now if y’all need me to » pic.twitter.com/nxWX5NivN9

— PHLY Sixers (@PHLY_Sixers) March 16, 2026

On the Portland side, Deni Avdija led the offense with 25 points, supported by Jerami Grant and his 20 points. Donovan Clingan dominated on the boards with 11 points and 15 rebounds. However, the Trail Blazers struggled from 3-point range, converting only 17 of their 53 attempts (32.7%).

A controlled finish by Philadelphia

After taking a narrow 54–53 lead into halftime, the 76ers seized control in the third quarter, with Anthony Edwards sparking the offense by scoring nine points in the period. Philadelphia gradually tightened its grip on the game, pushing the pace and capitalizing on defensive stops. Nick Nurse’s team eventually stretched the margin to its largest of the night, 101–87, with 5:34 remaining.

Portland made one last push, putting together a 10–0 run to briefly threaten the lead and bring some tension back into the arena. But the Sixers quickly steadied themselves. VJ Edgecombe delivered a crucial basket with 1:53 left, and moments later Edwards jumped a passing lane for a steal and a powerful dunk with 1:20 remaining — a sequence that effectively sealed the win. The performance once again highlighted Philadelphia’s growing depth, as the Sixers now sit half a game ahead of Atlanta in the race for eighth place in the Eastern Conference.