The Cleveland Cavaliers open up their NBA Cup schedule as they host LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers.
This will be James’s first game in the arena he called home for over a decade, since he spurned them in free agency last summer. James has gotten a hero’s welcome in each of his returns when he was wearing purple and gold. That reception isn’t guaranteed this time around.
The Sixers have shown early on why James chose them over the Cavs. Philadelphia has amassed the most wins so far by putting
together the second-best defense in the league — an area that many people thought they would struggle with. The offense has been a work in progress, but they have enough individual shot makers to eke out enough points in the clutch to come away with victories.
The Cavs, conversely, are struggling. They’ve lost two games in a row and are just 1-4 against teams over .500.
This is also an NBA Cup game. The Cavs haven’t advanced out of the group stage in this tournament yet. If they want to do so this season, they’ll likely need to win this game, or at the very least, not lose by much.
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Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (4-4) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (8-1)
Where: Rocket Arena – Cleveland, OH
When: Friday, Nov. 6 at 7:30 PM
TV: Prime Video
Point spread: 76ers -2.5
Cavs injury report: Jarrett Allen – QUESTIONABLE (knee), Peyton Watson – QUESTIONABLE (hamstring), Tyrese Proctor – QUESTIONABLE (ankle), Jaylon Tyson – OUT (ankle), Nae’Qwan Tomlin – OUT (back), Khalifa Diop – OUT (G League), Ernest Udeh, Jr. – OUT (G League)
76ers injury report: Dominick Barlow – OUT (back), Adem Bona – DOUBTFUL (back), Ariel Hukporti – OUT (Achilles)
Cavs expected starting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Meleek Thomas, Mario Hezonja, Evan Mobley
76ers expected starting lineup: Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, Joel Embiid
Cavs jersey: Black Statement Edition uniform
Previous matchup: The Sixers erased a 29-point deficit to defeat the Cavs on Cleveland’s opening night.
Here’s a look at both teams’ regular-season impact stats via Cleaning the Glass.
