Cavaliers Lose To The 76ers 104-97: Game Recap 2/23/24

Post-Game Recap

3 Notable Notes Around the Loss

1 – Shooting Woes

The Cavs had a rough night shooting from deep, going 8 for 27, while the Sixers went 12 for 29.  Cleveland had also struggled at the charity strike, going 21-31.

2 – Rebounds

Philly did not have Joel Embiid, but it did not matter when it came to rebounding as the Cavs got beat out 51 to 43, aiding the Sixers to have ten more field goal attempts.

2 – Bench 

Back-to-back nights the Cavs bench struggled scoring as the Sixers outscored the Cleveland 34 to 20.  Caris LeVert stood out, going 1 for 11 with only six points.

Game Recap

Tyrese Maxey’s explosive fourth-quarter performance propelled the Philadelphia 76ers to a 104-97 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night. Maxey, initially subdued in the game, ignited in the final quarter, contributing 15 crucial points out of the Sixers’ last 20. His pivotal assist to Buddy Heild for a 3-pointer widened Philadelphia’s lead to eight points in the closing minute.

Cam Payne, acquired from Milwaukee at the trade deadline, proved instrumental off the bench, particularly in the first half. He showcased his scoring prowess with 16 points, shooting 6 for 11, including four 3-pointers in just 20 minutes of play, aiding in the Sixers’ surge to an 11-point lead in the third quarter.

Tobias Harris chipped in 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while Heild added 13 points to bolster the Sixers’ offense.

Despite the efforts of Jarrett Allen, who scored 24 points, and Darius Garland, who contributed 20 points and nine assists for the Cavaliers, Cleveland suffered their second consecutive loss and third defeat in four games. The absence of leading scorer and All-Star Donovan Mitchell sidelined due to illness, further hampered the Cavaliers’ efforts.

Previously the hottest team in the NBA before the All-Star break, the Cavs saw their six-game road winning streak snapped, now with four losses in their last 22 games.

In the final moments, Garland’s free throws and a layup from Max Strus narrowed the gap to three points, but Maxey’s clutch free throws secured the win for Philadelphia.

Kyle Lowry, who made his debut for the Sixers the previous day, was absent from the Cleveland game as he continues to work on his conditioning for a return to competition, following his 11-point performance against the New York Knicks on Thursday.

Up Next

At Washington Wizards on Sunday