The Philadelphia 76ers’ matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night marked their third game in four days–and they sure played like it. Cleveland outwilled Philadelphia on extra-effort plays, as it registered 11 second-chance points in only eight minutes of play. The Cavaliers’ physicality set the tone as the 76ers couldn’t overcome it
Philadelphia (22-17) unraveled against Cleveland (23-19) 133-107 at Xfinity Mobile Arena tonight in a game where it lost on both ends of the court. The Cavaliers’ rapid dribble penetration forced the 76ers to scramble and they couldn’t make up for it offensively. Philadelphia didn’t have it in multiple ways, but one game shouldn’t negate the progress it made lately.
Poor third quarters have swung games out of the 76ers’ favor this season, but the first quarter was where the game was lost tonight. Cleveland outscored Philadelphia 33-18 in the first 12 minutes and did so by simply playing with more desire. Look no further than the Cavaliers’ eight offensive boards in the frame, many of which stemmed from lackadaisical 76ers boxouts.
While Philadelphia limited Cleveland to just four offensive rebounds the rest of the way, its low energy was present in other ways. The Cavaliers wore the 76ers down with fast-paced ball pressure that led to many quality three-point attempts. They shot 43.5% from beyond the arc while Philadelphia’s finished with a 27.9% mark.
Donovan Mitchell (35 points) and Darius Garland (20 points) were the catalysts, each recording at least seven assists. Their advantage creation exploited any coverage that the 76ers deployed and they weren’t able to recover – physically and thematically.
Philadelphia cut its deficit to 11 points with just over four minutes remaining in the third quarter, a push that none other than Jabari Walker headlined. He chipped in four rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block in the frame, doing a bit of everything. The forward’s energy was a breath of fresh air, but that was all it was – a breath.
The 76ers failed to consistently generate offense, with their 22 assists to Cleveland’s 41 being indicative of that. Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey were Philadelphia’s only players to score in double figures. The 76ers’ offense became methodical and isolation-heavy at points throughout the game as a result.
However, Philadelphia entered tonight winning six of its last eight games, displaying true growth between its big three and identity on both ends of the court. It’s an 82-game season and the 76ers were due for an off night. Given their recent play, they should be awarded the benefit of the doubt. But, Philadelphia must rematch Cleveland on January 16th at 7 p.m. EST with a chip on its shoulder.