Tyson’s 39 Points, Late Assist Lift Short-Handed Cavs Over 76ers
tysons-39-points-and-clutch-assist-lead-cavs-past-76ers
PHILADELPHIA — Second-year guard Jaylon Tyson recorded a career-high 39 points and fed Evan Mobley for the decisive dunk in the final seconds, guiding the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 117-115 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.
Playing without injured guards Darius Garland and Sam Merrill, Cleveland leaned heavily on Tyson. The 23-year-old responded by shooting 13-for-17 overall, 7-for-9 from beyond the arc and a perfect 6-for-6 at the free-throw line. He added five rebounds and four assists in 38 composed minutes.
The game turned on the final in-bounds play. Lonzo Ball delivered the pass to Tyson, who drove the lane and, rather than attempt a 40-point finish, dropped the ball to Mobley for a two-handed dunk with 4.2 seconds left. Philadelphia’s last try came up short, sealing Cleveland’s third win in its past four outings.
“If Jaylon Tyson isn’t leading the Most Improved Player conversation, the award doesn’t matter,” Donovan Mitchell told reporters. “He could have gone for 40, but he made the right play to win the game.”
Head coach Kenny Atkinson labeled the performance “five-star,” while forward DeAndre Hunter praised Tyson’s consistency on both ends of the floor. The guard is now averaging 13.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steal, shooting 52.1 percent overall and 47.8 percent from three in 27.2 minutes per game.
“I don’t want to make this all about me,” Tyson said. “Everybody made good plays. It was a good team win.” The Cavaliers will return home after the road victory, continuing to navigate lineup changes while banking crucial Eastern Conference wins.
Source: Hoops Wire
