In a decisive NBA Cup group‑stage matchup on Friday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 119‑95. The win was highlighted by a strong performance from Donovan Mitchell, who contributed 23 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.
LeBron James limited in Ohio comeback
LeBron James, returning to Northeast Ohio after signing with Philadelphia in the offseason, was held to just eight points on 3‑of‑12 shooting, including 0‑for‑4 from three‑point range. Fans in Cleveland expressed their displeasure with occasional boos each time he touched the ball. James left the game with 3:54 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Historic scoring streak ends
The outing marked only the tenth time in James’s 24‑year career that he has scored in single digits during a regular‑season game. His remarkable streak of 1,297 consecutive regular‑season games with at least ten points, which began in his rookie season, concluded last December while he was with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Cavaliers’ supporting cast steps up
Evan Mobley added 22 points for Cleveland, helping the team rebound after two recent losses to Oklahoma City. James Harden contributed 17 points for the 76ers, while Philadelphia’s leading scorers were Jaylen Brown (20), VJ Edgecombe (19) and Tyrese Maxey (17). Joel Embiid missed all nine of his field‑goal attempts but was perfect from the free‑throw line, converting six of six.
Philadelphia struggles from beyond the arc
The 76ers shot just 36.5% from the field and struggled from three‑point range, making only 10 of 40 attempts. Their loss represents only the second defeat in ten games this season.
Other NBA Cup results
In other group‑stage action, the Boston Celtics routed the Charlotte Hornets 119‑80, while the Atlanta Hawks beat the Washington Wizards 139‑132. The Toronto Raptors defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 121‑107, and the Oklahoma City Thunder overcame the Memphis Grizzlies 128‑97. Dallas secured a 112‑100 win over Utah, and Minnesota edged New Orleans 115‑109.
These results keep the Cavaliers in a strong position within their group and demonstrate the depth of talent across the league as teams vie for advancement in the NBA Cup competition.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
