Blazers Underperform in Loss, NBA Finals Highlight Urgent Call for Better Defense

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers were able to earn a rather impressive 109-103 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday. Despite, once again, missing so many key pieces, the Sixers were able to rally together to beat a pretty talented Blazers team who beat them pretty good back on Feb. 9 in Portland.

Quentin Grimes had a season-high 31 points for Philadelphia, VJ Edgecombe had 18 points and 12 rebounds, and Justin Edwards had 21 points. Dominick Barlow added 11 points, Cam Payne had 11 points, and Andre Drummond added six points, 17 rebounds, and four steals. Here are the three biggest takeaways following the win: Edwards doing it on both ends There was a lot of good things done by Edwards on Sunday as he provided a big lift for the Sixers on both ends.

He shot 9-for-14 from the floor and 3-for-5 from deep in an effort to give Philadelphia some offensive production on a night it continues to miss so many key pieces and he also had two steals. It felt like he had more than that as he was terrific on the defensive end of the floor. When Edwards is on a roll on the offensive end as he was in this one at all three levels, it makes one helluva difference for Philadelphia and everybody knows it.

"He kind of makes the game easy," Grimes said. "He simplifies the game. I mean, he gets to his spots easy out there on the court.