Sixers’ Home Struggles Continue in Frustrating Loss to Cavs: A Closer Look at What’s Going Wrong in Philly
Another night, another missed opportunity for the Sixers at home. Friday’s 117-115 loss to the Cavaliers wasn’t just another mark in the “L” column - it was a snapshot of a troubling trend that’s been brewing all season long inside Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Let’s be clear: this team is still above .500 overall. But at home?
They’re now 10-11. That makes them the only team in the NBA with a winning record overall and a losing one on their own floor.
That’s not just unusual - it’s historically unprecedented for this franchise. Never before have the Sixers finished a season above .500 while being underwater at home.
And yet, here we are.
The locker room after Friday’s loss told its own story. Players quietly moved through their routines.
Eric Gordon, sidelined yet again - the 34th time in 40 games - dressed quickly and exited. Tyrese Maxey and Trendon Watford, close friends and locker neighbors, sat together in a quiet moment of reflection.
Jared McCain, the second-year guard in the midst of a tough slump and headed for a G-League assignment, sat in uniform, staring at his phone.
Meanwhile, the postgame menu - meatloaf with sweet glaze, blackened barramundi, honey-glazed chicken - offered more flavor than the Sixers’ recent home performances.
A Tale of Two Courts
On the road, the Sixers are 12-7. At home, they’re sub-.500.
That’s not how it’s supposed to work - especially not for a team with playoff ambitions. So what’s going on?
Kelly Oubre Jr. was asked that very question and gave a knowing smile before offering a candid answer.
“We’re prone to lapses,” he said. “We’re up, the other team gets momentum, goes on runs, and we get a little frantic.”
It’s not just one thing. Injuries have certainly played a role.
Joel Embiid and Paul George have both missed nine home games apiece. Oubre himself was out for 12 home contests after a knee injury in November.
Trendon Watford also missed time.
Still, head coach Nick Nurse isn’t eager to lean on that excuse.
“The prep’s been great,” Nurse said. “The concentration’s been there.
The practices have been sharp. But yeah, we’ve looked at lineup changes, second-half adjustments, little tweaks.”
Right now, they need more than tweaks. They’ve dropped nine of their last 14 at home, including four of the last five.
And the schedule isn’t doing them any favors - four more home games are coming this week alone: Indiana, Phoenix, Houston, and New York. After that, it’s Sacramento, Milwaukee, and New Orleans to close out the month.
A Game of Missed Chances
Friday’s rematch with Cleveland was a gut-punch. Unlike Wednesday’s blowout loss, this one slipped away late.
The Sixers led by 11 in the fourth quarter, only to watch it vanish in the final minutes. The dagger?
A dunk by Evan Mobley with 4.8 seconds left, set up by a slick baseline drive and dish from Jaylon Tyson.
Tyson was electric. The second-year wing exploded for a career-high 39 points, drilling 7-of-9 from deep. He wasn’t just hot - he was unconscious.
“He had a halo over him tonight,” Oubre said. “He was shooting to God’s net.”
Tyson’s outburst came on a night when Donovan Mitchell was quiet, scoring just 13 points on 4-of-13 shooting. The Sixers’ game plan worked - they took away Cleveland’s top option. But Tyson made them pay.
“We made someone else beat us,” Maxey said. “And he did.”
It wasn’t just Tyson. De’Andre Hunter - a Philly native who’s struggled this season - torched the Sixers off the bench for the second straight game, scoring 16. Tyrese Proctor, shooting under 30% from three this year, went 3-for-5 from deep and added 13 points.
Stars Show Up, But It’s Not Enough
Embiid did his part, dropping 33 points. Maxey added 22, but it came on 9-of-23 shooting as Tyson hounded him defensively.
Rookie VJ Edgecombe quietly had an efficient night, hitting 4-of-5 shots - but took only five attempts. Nurse admitted afterward that Edgecombe could’ve been more aggressive, especially in transition, but also noted the ball just didn’t find him.
And those little things? They added up.
Quentin Grimes missed a layup. Maxey misfired on a wide-open corner three.
Either could’ve stopped Cleveland’s 13-2 run that tied the game in the fourth.
Instead, the Cavs took control. Tyson drilled two more threes, Hunter threw down a transition dunk over Embiid, and Cleveland closed it out with a perfectly executed inbounds play.
Tyson caught Lonzo Ball’s pass, drove baseline past Paul George, and found Mobley wide open under the rim. Embiid had rotated to help, but no one picked up Mobley.
Game over.
Time to Make a Stand
Once again, the home crowd left disappointed. And once again, the Sixers were left searching for answers.
“They were in their rhythm,” Oubre said of the Cavs. “We’ve got to disrupt that.
Be more physical. Let them know we’re here to stand in front of you.
We’re not going to let you get what you want.”
That mindset has to start translating into results - especially at home. Because if the Sixers want to be taken seriously come playoff time, they’ve got to figure out how to protect their house. Right now, the recipe just isn’t working - no matter how good the postgame spread tastes.