GRADES: Sixers’ bench crushes Cavs to finish road trip

Philadelphia dominated Cleveland with a big second half from the bench unit to finish their road trip without Joel Embiid still atop the conference standings.

The game started out with a pair of runs. Cleveland jumped out early 13-5 only for Philadelphia to go on a 13-2 run taking the lead. Curry scored 11 as the teams ended the first quarter all even at 31.

The second quarter was more of the same with Philadelphia pulling ahead only for Cleveland to answer. Going into the halftime locker rooms, Philadelphia led 58-56.

The third quarter was fairly low scoring as Philadelphia clamped down on the defensive end. The game was 68-65, Philadelphia; before a 9-2 run seemingly extended the lead out of reach as Cleveland struggled to initiate offense. A Lamar Stevens tip helped Cleveland close Philadelphia’s lead to 85-73 entering the fourth.

The bench unit started the fourth and proceeded on a 17-5 run that cleared the way for the depths of the bench to play out the remainder of the game. Paul Reed, G-League MVP, Isaiah Joe, and Rayjon Tucker helped close the game for Philadelphia as they ended the road trip well winning 114-94.

The Sixers brought down Cleveland to finish 7-3 in Joel Embiid’s injury-induced absence.

27 mins | 27 pts | 5 reb | 4 ast | 1 stl | 0 blk | 1 TO | 10-14 FG | 5-7 3PT| 2-2 FT | 0 PF | +23 |

Shake Milton had one of his best games this season. The box score tells only half the story. Milton’s rise from late second rounder to perhaps second best on-ball shot creator hasn’t been a subject discussed enough among Philadelphia faithful. Beyond that, he typically has a “flash-in-the-pan” style, but tonight it was a slow burn. A good development in a promising young career.

26 mins | 18 pts | 15 reb | 1 ast | 1 stl | 2 blk | 2 TO | 6-7 FG | 0-0 3PT| 6-9 FT | 3 PF | +20 |

Cleveland was without Jarrett Allen and it showed. Dwight Howard made light work of the smaller men being deployed his way. 18 and 15 is a firm reminder of what Howard is capable of and the value he brings on his contract.

25 mins | 5 pts | 2 reb | 0 ast | 2 stl | 3 blk | 0 TO | 2-6 FG | 1-4 3PT| 0-0 FT | 1 PF | +18 |

For those waiting for Matisse Thybulle to make “the leap”, don’t hold your breath. His offensive game feels fairly done and that improvement will be marginal, within his role, and siloed. None of that changes that he is the best on-ball defender in the NBA. His own teammate may win DPOY and yet it’s a hard argument that he isn’t the best defensive playmaker in the league.

24 mins | 5 pts | 13 reb | 5 ast | 1 stl | 0 blk | 2 TO | 2-11 FG | 0-0 3PT| 1-3 FT | 2 PF | +3 |

That teammate who may win DPOY, Ben Simmons, won’t be wining any shooting contests. Simmons is phenomenal and both him and Tobias Harris look like they want a nap more than their poor play should be concerning. And yet, tonight, against these guards, should be a night where Simmons scores 40.

24 mins | 19 pts | 4 reb | 4 ast | 2 stl | 0 blk | 0 TO | 7-15 FG | 5-10 3PT| 0-0 FT | 2 PF | +2 |

Curry lights up the nets and continued to do so tonight. He chipped in some ancillary stats as well. A strong game from Philadelphia’s best offseason work.

Cleveland will now head down to South Beach like a former Cavalier once did as they take on the Miami Heat on Saturday. As for Philadelphia, it appears Joel Embiid will be returning to the lineup on Saturday as they’ll host Karl Anthony-Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves while trying to remain atop the Eastern Conference standings.