Cleveland led Philadelphia by 29 and lost 114-106, so the record is 0-1 and the Cavs sit 12th in the East. The Nets come in Saturday, and they won 20 games last season.
How does a 29-point lead disappear?
Cleveland led 69-40 with 49 seconds left before halftime. Then came three runs: 16-0 across the break, 11-0 midway through the third and 15-0 in the fourth. The Cavs scored 21 in the third quarter and 16 in the fourth, while Philadelphia put up 69 after halftime. A team with Mitchell and Harden handling the ball can't go cold in long stretches like that.
Who carries the blame beyond the box score headline?
Mitchell did his part with 32 and 10. Harden scored 10 of the 16 fourth-quarter points, but he also had six turnovers and finished minus-17. Peyton Watson's debut went badly: 2-of-7 shooting, five giveaways, minus-19 in 30 minutes. The bench scored 18. Sam Merrill and Jaylon Tyson were each plus-5 in 24 minutes, and that should matter when Atkinson sets his rotation.
Who is healthy for the Nets?
Jarrett Allen went from day-to-day with a right knee issue to cleared on October 22, then gave Cleveland 14 and seven in 28 minutes. Khalifa Diop and Nae'Qwan Tomlin were also listed as cleared that day. Hoops Rumors had reported on October 20 that Tomlin would miss at least three to four weeks with his back, so his status is still worth watching. For Brooklyn, Tyler Bilodeau is day-to-day with a shoulder problem.
Is Brooklyn a game Cleveland should win?
On paper, yes. Brooklyn went 20-62 last season with a minus-10.0 net rating, and Jordi Fernandez's team is 0-1 again. Michael Porter Jr. averaged 24.2 a night and Julius Randle 21.1, so the Nets have two players who can score. Next come Minnesota on October 26 and Washington on October 28, both at home. Losing to Brooklyn on top of Philadelphia would put real doubt on this start.
Why is LeBron in Cavs headlines again?
ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported that Atkinson was "depressed" when a deal for James fell through. Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor has James discussing the free agency pursuit. Thursday, James had 17, 10 boards and five assists in the comeback. It's an interesting storyline. It also doesn't explain how this team scored 37 points in a half.
When do the Cavaliers play the Nets?
Cleveland hosts Brooklyn on October 24. Both teams come in 0-1.
How did the Cavs lose to the 76ers after leading by 29?
Philadelphia outscored Cleveland 69-37 in the second half, with runs of 16-0, 11-0 and 15-0, and won 114-106.
