The Cleveland Cavaliers just dealt a massive blow in East Group B, snapping the Philadelphia 76ers’ five-game winning streak with a decisive 119-95 victory. This wasn’t just another loss for the Sixers, who now sit at 8-2 overall and 1-1 in Cup play; it was a rough night where their biggest stars completely faltered.
Cavs Put the Foot Down Early and Often
From the jump, the Cavaliers set the tone. They opened their NBA Cup opener with a blistering 19-4 run against Philadelphia. You just knew that kind of start was gonna sting, right? Cleveland then put the game away for good with another 12-0 run that stretched across the end of the third quarter and into the fourth. What an absolute clinic. The Cavs pulled off this win without their standout center Jarrett Allen, who was sidelined with a knee injury. That’s a huge absence, especially with Joel Embiid on the other side. But even without Allen, the Cavs handled business. Evan Mobley was a beast, putting up 22 points on just 13 shots, plus 6 rebounds and 4 assists, all while bringing his usual defensive intensity. And Donovan Mitchell? He led the Cleveland offense all night with 23 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds. That’s a performance.
Star Power Fizzles for Philadelphia
If you’re a Sixers fan, you’re probably still scratching your head after this one. Joel Embiid, the former MVP, had what was easily his worst game of the season. Seriously, it was brutal. He posted just 6 points on a shocking 0-of-9 shooting from the field. He added 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 turnovers, but that shooting line is just wild. And it wasn’t just Embiid. LeBron James only managed 8 points on 3-of-12 shooting, alongside 3 assists and 6 turnovers. When your two biggest stars are misfiring like that, it’s gonna be a long night. The Sixers were completely outmatched in the paint, getting outscored a staggering 46-26 before James and the starters called it a night. That only other loss the Sixers had this season? It was on the second leg of a back-to-back, with Embiid and V.J. Edgecombe missing. This time, they were there, and it still went sideways.
East Group B Just Got a Whole Lot Spicier
This Cavaliers win throws a wrench into East Group B’s dynamic. Cleveland is now sitting pretty at 1-0 with a +24 point differential. Miami also picked up a win, 1-0 with a +20 differential. The Sixers, on the other hand, are now 1-1, and their point differential has taken a major hit, now at -19. The Knicks and Pacers are both 0-1 and looking up at the leaderboard. This early Cup game could be huge for tie-breakers down the line, especially with how competitive this group looks. That kind of defensive performance from the Cavs, especially Mobley, while Embiid and LeBron struggle like that, means Cleveland just made a serious statement in the NBA Cup.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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