The Sixers had every opportunity to walk out of Friday night with a hard-fought win and a split of their two-game series against the Cavs. Instead, they let it slip away in the final seconds, falling 117-115 in a game that was theirs for the taking.
Evan Mobley delivered the dagger - a thunderous dunk with just 4.8 seconds left off a slick baseline drive and dish from Jaylon Tyson. Tyrese Maxey had a shot to steal it at the buzzer, but his deep three missed the mark, sealing the Sixers’ fate.
Joel Embiid poured in 33 points to lead the Sixers, who now sit at 22-18. Maxey added 22 points and nine assists, and tied a career high with five steals in a game where he had to do a little bit of everything.
But the night belonged to Tyson, who torched Philly for a career-best 39 points on an ultra-efficient 13-of-17 shooting performance. The Sixers simply had no answer for the rookie's offensive onslaught.
Cleveland was missing several key rotation players - Darius Garland, Max Strus, Dean Wade, and Sam Merrill were all out - but it didn’t matter. The Cavs, now 24-19, found enough firepower and grit to close out the game in crunch time.
Let’s break down how this one got away from the Sixers.
Sixers Adjust Their Defense on Mitchell - and It Worked
Donovan Mitchell had carved up Philly for 35 points and nine assists in the first game of this mini-series, so the Sixers knew they had to change something. They came out with a much more aggressive, team-oriented approach to slowing him down - and it paid off.
Dominick Barlow, who took a hard fall in Wednesday’s loss and was questionable with a back contusion, stayed in the starting lineup and played a key role in the revised game plan. The Sixers blitzed Mitchell early, with even Embiid stepping out near half court to disrupt pick-and-roll actions. They shaded help on his drives and threw timely double teams his way, forcing him into tough decisions.
That pressure created chaos - and turnovers. Cleveland coughed up the ball seven times before the Sixers committed one. Philly turned those miscues into 16 early points, including a Barlow dunk off a Paul George steal and a VJ Edgecombe three following a Barlow swipe.
Mitchell finished with 13 points on just 4-of-13 shooting. He still dished out 12 assists and grabbed nine boards, but his six turnovers were a clear sign that the Sixers’ defensive wrinkles got him out of rhythm.
Embiid’s Offensive Arsenal Was on Full Display
Joel Embiid came out firing and never let up. He scored 13 points in the first quarter alone and mixed up his attack beautifully all night long.
Whether it was mid-range jumpers off pick-and-rolls, bruising finishes in the paint, or drawing contact and getting to the line (11-for-12 on free throws), Embiid looked in total control. His ability to shift gears - from finesse to force - kept Cleveland’s front line guessing.
Even when the Sixers got a little loose with the ball in the second quarter, Embiid helped steady the ship. Quentin Grimes hit a pair of threes in the final minute of the half to give Philly a seven-point cushion going into the break, and Embiid opened the third with back-to-back jumpers to keep the offense rolling.
This version of Embiid - diverse, decisive, and dominant - is the one that gives the Sixers a real shot in any close game. But even that wasn’t enough on Friday.
Tyson’s Breakout, Maxey’s Struggles, and a Fourth-Quarter Collapse
Jaylon Tyson didn’t just have a good game - he had the kind of night that gets you noticed across the league. His 39 points came in all varieties: pull-up jumpers, catch-and-shoot threes, tough finishes at the rim. And he wasn’t just filling up the box score on offense; he made life difficult for Maxey, too.
Maxey shot just 14-for-39 (35.9%) over the two-game set against Cleveland, and Tyson’s physical defense was a big part of that. The Sixers leaned heavily on Maxey, Edgecombe, and Grimes in the backcourt, with Jared McCain - who had appeared in every game since mid-November - staying on the bench.
Despite that, Maxey still found ways to contribute. He hit a big three late in the third quarter to push the Sixers’ lead to seven, and even with both Embiid and Maxey resting to start the fourth, the Sixers extended their lead to 11 thanks to a Paul George jumper.
But then came the unraveling.
Cleveland surged back behind Tyson and De’Andre Hunter, who tied the game with a three-pointer. Embiid checked back in with 5:40 left and helped spark a 7-0 run, but the Sixers couldn’t sustain it.
The offense stalled. Missed layups piled up. And the Cavs pounced.
Hunter threw down a monster dunk on Embiid, Tyson knocked down two cold-blooded jumpers, and suddenly Cleveland had the edge. Maxey tied it with a floater with 8.1 seconds to go, but the final possession belonged to the Cavs - and Mobley made it count.
What’s Next
This one will sting for the Sixers, especially after the strong defensive effort on Mitchell and another standout performance from Embiid. But they’ll have to shake it off quickly - the Pacers are coming to town Monday night.
The Sixers are still trying to find consistency in their rotation and close games with authority. If they want to be taken seriously in the East, these are the kinds of games they need to finish. Friday night was a reminder: even a strong performance can be undone by a few shaky minutes.