The Philadelphia 76ers ran into a buzzsaw on Wednesday night, and the Cleveland Cavaliers were holding it. Playing their third game in four nights, the Sixers looked every bit as worn down as the schedule suggested, falling 133-107 in a game that got away from them early and never really came back.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t just about tired legs. This was about effort, execution, and Cleveland dictating the terms of engagement from the opening tip.
The Cavaliers came out swinging-literally, in the paint-and their physicality set the tone. They dominated the glass early, grabbing eight offensive rebounds in the first quarter alone and cashing in for 11 second-chance points in just the first eight minutes.
That’s not just hustle-that’s a team playing with purpose.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, looked stuck in neutral. The Sixers gave up 33 points in the opening frame while managing just 18 of their own.
And while they did a better job containing Cleveland’s second-chance opportunities the rest of the way, the lack of urgency lingered. The Cavaliers kept pressing, kept pushing the pace, and kept forcing Philly into uncomfortable spots on both ends.
Cleveland’s backcourt duo of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland was relentless. Mitchell poured in 35 points with his usual blend of craft and explosion, while Garland added 20 and both guards dished out at least seven assists.
They carved up every coverage the Sixers threw at them, whether it was drop, switch, or help-heavy rotations. The ball was moving, the shooters were ready, and Cleveland knocked down 43.5% of their threes.
That’s how you break a defense down piece by piece.
Philadelphia, on the other hand, couldn’t find that same rhythm. The offense stalled into isolation sets far too often, and the ball movement just wasn’t there-22 assists to Cleveland’s 41 tells the story. Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey were the only Sixers to crack double figures, and while they each had their moments, it wasn’t enough to overcome the lack of support around them.
There was a brief spark in the third quarter when Jabari Walker checked in and brought some much-needed juice. He filled the stat sheet with four boards, three assists, two steals, and a block-all in one quarter-and helped trim the deficit to 11 with just over four minutes left in the third.
But it was a short-lived surge. Walker’s energy stood out because it was in such stark contrast to the rest of the night.
The Sixers have had a recurring issue with third quarters this season, but this time, it was the first that buried them. And while one rough outing doesn’t erase the progress they’ve made-six wins in their last eight coming in-it’s a reminder that the margin for error in the East is razor thin.
The chemistry between Embiid, George, and Maxey has been steadily building, and there’s been real growth on both ends. But nights like this show just how important it is to bring that edge every game, especially against a team like Cleveland that’s finding its stride.
The good news? The rematch comes fast.
Philadelphia gets another shot at the Cavaliers on January 16th. Expect a response.
If this team is serious about climbing the Eastern Conference ladder, they’ll need to bring more than just talent-they’ll need the kind of grit Cleveland showed on Wednesday.