The Sixers beat Cleveland 114-106 after falling behind by 29, and took the lead for good during a 15-0 fourth-quarter run. Tyrese Maxey scored 32, the starting five combined for 105, and Philadelphia is 2-0 and first in the East.
How do you come back from 29 down against a team that rested eight days?
You start before halftime. Down 69-40 with 49 seconds to go in the second quarter, the Sixers scored 16 straight points across the break and cut the gap to 13. An 11-0 burst later in the third made it 80-77. They won the third quarter 37-21 and the fourth 32-16. Cleveland came in with eight days off and Philadelphia with one, yet the Cavaliers managed only 37 points after halftime.
Who closed it?
Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and Maxey scored 27 of the 32 fourth-quarter points: Brown 10, Embiid 9, Maxey 8. A 15-0 run from 8:15 to 4:06 turned a 95-89 deficit into a 104-95 lead. Maxey hit two free throws with 32 seconds left to make it 112-104, and Brown's driving dunk off a VJ Edgecombe pass made it 114-106. Cleveland scored 16 in the quarter.
Who earned a good grade, and who didn't?
Maxey, A: 32 points on 12-of-23, six assists, 6-of-8 at the line, a +19 in 42 minutes. Embiid, A-minus: 24 on 8-of-16 with 7-of-9 free throws, +18 in 34 minutes. LeBron James, B-minus: 17 points and 10 rebounds with three steals, but 5-of-14 shooting and five turnovers. Anfernee Simons, F: 0-of-4, all from three, and a -24 in 17 minutes, the worst number for either team.
Is VJ Edgecombe the quiet winner of this one?
His scoring line won't sell anything: 11 points on 4-of-11. But he matched Maxey's +19 in nine fewer minutes, with seven rebounds, six assists, three steals and one turnover, and he threw the pass that sealed it. Donovan Mitchell still finished with 32 and 10 and was a -6. James Harden had six turnovers and finished -17.
What does 2-0 mean with Milwaukee and Detroit up next?
It means first in the East and 1.5 games clear of 11th, which on October 23 is worth exactly what you think. The real issue is depth: the bench scored seven points while the starters scored 105. Tacko Fall and Dean Wade are both listed to return Saturday against the Bucks, and Detroit comes in the next night. A two-night set is a bad time to ride five starters again.
Did the 76ers beat the Cavaliers?
Yes, 114-106 at home on October 22, after trailing by as many as 29 points. Tyrese Maxey led them with 32.
Who led the Sixers in scoring against Cleveland?
Tyrese Maxey scored 32 points, followed by Joel Embiid with 24 and Jaylen Brown with 21.
