Cavs Overcome Sluggish Start and Cruise to 115-101 Victory

*** After a heavyweight brawl with Boston the previous day, a get-well game against the shorthanded Sixers was just what the Cavaliers needed – overcoming a sluggish start and cruising to the 115-101 victory on Monday night at Rocket Arena. 

Facing a Sixers squad playing without Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George and VJ Edgecombe, the Cavaliers caught their rhythm late in the first period, running out to a double-digit lead early in the second quarter and opening up a three-touchdown lead after three. Both coaches emptied their bench with 3:30 to play in regulation. 

James Harden led six Cavaliers in double-figures with 21 points, going 6-of-11 from the floor, including 3-of-8 from long-range and 6-of-6 from the stripe, adding five boards, five assists and a block. 

Donovan Mitchell followed up with 17 points on 4-of-11 shooting and was a perfect 9-for-9 from the stripe, leading both teams with six assists and a pair of steals in the win. 

Evan Mobley chipped in with 15 points and eight boards, going 7-for-12 from the floor and swatting three Sixers offerings – his second straight game with three blocks, 16^th on the season for the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. 

Dean Wade tallied his first double-double of the year, finishing with 13 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, going 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, adding a pair of assists and a block as the Wine & Gold won their 40^th game of the season. 

Keon Ellis has been sensational on the defensive end every night since being acquired at the deadline last month, but Monday’s win marked his finest effort on the offensive end – leading all reserves with 19 points, going 5-of-9 from the floor, including 4-of-7 from long-range and 5-of-7 from the line, finishing with a game-high plus/minus +25 in his 25 minutes of work off the bench. 

Jaylon Tyson came off the bench to tally 11 points, going 3-for-6 from long-distance in the win. The sophomore swingman from Cal is shooting .457 from three-point range on the year, good for 3^rd-best mark in the NBA. (With teammate Sam Merrill, at .446, right on his tail.)

Overall, the Cavs shot 45 percent from the floor, drilled 16 triples and were 23-of-25 from the stripe – committing just 10 miscues on the night. 

Philadelphia was led by Quentin Grimes, one of just three Sixers in double-figures. Cameron Payne chipped in with 12 points and Justin Edwards led their second unit with 14 points in the loss. 

*** After an unorthodox three-game homestand, the Cavaliers will spend most of the next two weeks on the road, beginning with a Wednesday night meeting with the Magic in Orlando, followed by the first of two straight against Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks, traveling to Dallas on Friday night with a home matchup slated for Sunday afternoon. The following week, it’s right back on the road, with stops in Milwaukee, Chicago and New Orleans before returning for another three-game run at Rocket Arena.