3 comments after the Sixers were blown out by the NBA-champion Cavs first appeared on NBC sports Philadelphia
The Sixers couldn’t pull off a dramatic road win over the NBA-leading Cavs on Saturday night.
Cleveland won very comfortably on its home turf, improving to 25-4 with a 126-99 decision. The Sixers dropped to 9-17.
Tyrese Maxey scored a team-high 27 points. Paul George had 11 points and shot 4 for 12 from the field.
The Cavs got 26 points from Darius Garland. Evan Mobley tallied 22 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.
The Sixers are without Jared McCain (left meniscus surgery) and Joel Embiid, who had the night off after 34-point, nine-assist performance in the Sixers’ win over the Hornets. Cleveland’s Isaac Okoro (right AC shoulder injury) and Max Strus (right ankle injury management) are sidelined.
Here are the notes on the Sixers’ blowout loss on Saturday in Cleveland:
Kill it slog for the Sixers
For the second straight night, Maxey was ready to roll once the game got going.
After scoring 15 first-quarter points Friday, he posted the Sixers’ first eight in Cleveland on a pair of pull-up three-pointers and a driving layup. Along with blowing on these opportunities to attack before the Cavs defense was fully set, Maxey drove and fired the ball to Kelly Oubre Jr. for a triple that put the Sixers ahead 15-5.
Following a 2-for-12 outing against Charlotte, George missed his first two hits. Maxey then does a good job for George to set up a screen for him. That creates the desired change of George vs.
George could not sustain his success and Maxey cold off. The Sixers had a difficult time expected to find high quality shots against a very good opponent with a lot of rim protection. Even without Embiid’s breakout scoring ability, the Sixers need a low-scoring, big-shooting night.
As a team, the Sixers record a low-season 13 assists on them 34 made field goals.
Apart from the buzzer-beater, there was no magic off the bench
Caleb Martin rejoined the Sixers bench on Saturday, returning from a right shoulder injury and playing his first game since Dec. 8.
The focus of Martin’s first season was a transportation drive and a tricky scouting setup. Martin ended up logging 29 minutes and posting eight points on 3-for-10 shooting, three rebounds and three assists.
The Cavs pushed ahead late in the first quarter. Donovan Mitchell threw down a fast-break, and a dunk. A few plays later, Cleveland turned George’s layup into a Caris LeVert slam. The Sixers dashed their hopes of an against-the-odds victory with 10 first-half turnovers.
In addition to Martin, the Sixers used Guerschon Yabusele, Ricky Council IV, Kyle Lowry and Eric Gordon off the bench in the first half. Council made the toughest shot of the night, improbably swishing a jumper from around 40 feet just before the halftime buzzer.
While many of the Sixers have good releases off the bench, no one provides the extra scoring needed besides Maxey. Oubre went 3 for 11 from the floor and his streak of consecutive double-digit scoring nights ended at 11 games.
Cavs true to form
Surprisingly, Martin was on the floor instead of Maxey to start the third period. Maxey soon arrived at the head desk and checked out after 24 seconds.
The Cavs quickly extended their lead to 20 points, but Maxey and the Sixers stormed back. A Maxey three cut Cleveland’s lead down to 81-73. He went 5 for 10 to hit the plate, making at least three triples for his fifth consecutive game. Over that stretch, he averaged 27.4 points and hit 42 percent of his threes.
Unfortunately for the Sixers, the NBA’s top three-point percentage team not an uncharacteristic night whatsoever.
Cleveland shot 51.2 percent from long range. Garland drained 6 of 7 threes.
With the Sixers facing a big deficit, rookie center Adem Bona was subbed for Yabusele late in the third quarter and Jeff Dowtin Jr. open the fourth. Waste time is plentiful.
The Sixers will look to get back on track — presumably with Embiid matched up against 7-foot-3 Spurs sensation Victor Wembanyama — on Monday night in Philadelphia. Embiid scored a goal Sixers-record 70 points last time he faced San Antonio.
