The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 119-95 in LeBron James’ first game back in Cleveland this season.
Cleveland hit the ground running in this one. Donovan Mitchell rattled off seven quick points to start, while the Cavaliers’ defensive intensity gave them opportunities to run in transition. That two-way combination fueled a 27-12 start for the Cavs.
Philly managed to narrow the gap to 33-22 by the end of the first quarter, and worked their way back into the game throughout the second.
A 17-point first half from VJ Edgecombe led the way for the Sixers.
Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson said before the game that taking care of the ball was his biggest point of emphasis. His team did a fine job of this in the first half, only turning it over five times. They finished the game with 15 turnovers.
Mario Hezonja was a big help off the bench for Cleveland, scoring 10 points in his first 10 minutes. Hezonja has been a positive presence on the glass and was able to notch a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Philly made it a game during the third quarter, whittling the deficit down until it felt like Cleveland might suffer the same fate as the last time they held a big lead over the Sixers. But a strong close to the third put the Cavaliers back up by 17 points, a cushion they were able to enjoy for the final quarter.
The Cavs held Joel Embiid and LeBron James in check throughout the night, with the two stars shooting 2-for-16 and combining for 7 turnovers in the first three quarters. It was Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown who gave the Sixers any signs of life.
Donovan Mitchell led the way with 23 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds. It was a fantastic all-around performance that was buoyed by the elite defensive effort around him. Evan Mobley added 22 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
The Cavs are now 5-4 and will be back in Rocket Arena tomorrow night to host the New York Knicks in a rematch of the Eastern Conference Finals.
