'Temporary setback': Matthew Dellavedova rubbishes retirement rumours

Boomers star Matthew Dellavedova has dispelled doubts he could be facing the end of his career because of injury.

The Cleveland Cavaliers guard suffered a serious concussion in the NBA franchise's preseason opener on December 12 and hasn't played since, leading to reports in the US he could be forced to retire.

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But Dellavedova, who was part of the Cavaliers' 2016 NBA championship-winning team, says he is not about to call it quits.

"Retirement is not on my mind at all right now. Only focus is getting healthy and back with the boys to help make a playoff push. Cavs are playing good basketball and I'm definitely looking forward to being a part of what is getting built here," he tweeted.

"Injuries are frustrating but it's a temporary setback and I'm looking forward to coming back from this better than before. Thank you and appreciate the well wishes."

That is also great news for Australian basketball fans with Dellavedova named in coach Brian Goorjian's squad for the Olympic Games in July.

Australia are chasing their first basketball Olympic gold medal and Goorjian says that is their only goal in Tokyo, with the likes of Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers), Joe Ingles (Utah Jazz), Patty Mills (San Antonio Spurs), Aron Baynes (Toronto Raptors) and Dellavedova to call on.

Simmons misses 76ers' NBA loss to Blazers

Philadelphia's impressive NBA home record took a hit when Portland Trail Blazers rolled into town and proved too strong for a 76ers side without Australian Ben Simmons.

Sixers guard Simmons sat out with tightness in his left calf and the hosts were beaten 121-105 by an also undermanned Portland on Thursday night.

"I thought we missed Ben's presence all over the floor," Sixers coach Doc Rivers said.

"He spearheads our defence. We were a bad defensive team tonight, but I thought we were worse offensively."

The 76ers lost at Wells Fargo Center for just the second time in 12 games and the top team in the Eastern Conference dropped to 16-7.

Gary Trent Jr. scored 24 points and Enes Kanter's double-double (17 points, 18 rebounds) led the Blazers (12-9), who were missing Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and Derrick Jones Jr through injury.

Joel Embiid had 37 points for Philadelphia (31 in the first half on 11-of-17 shooting) and might have topped 40 had he not left the game for about four minutes when he fell awkwardly and tweaked his right knee. He walked straight to the locker room but returned with 90 seconds left in the first quarter.

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