The Cleveland Cavaliers, playing without four regulars, edged the Philadelphia 76ers 117-115 on Friday night at Wells Fargo Center.
Jaylon Tyson scored a career-best 39 points and delivered the decisive pass. With five seconds left and the score tied, the rookie drove along the baseline, drew help defense and slipped the ball to Evan Mobley for an uncontested dunk that sealed the victory.
Cleveland was missing Darius Garland, Sam Merrill, Dean Wade and Max Strus, forcing head coach Kenny Atkinson to use his 23rd different starting lineup this season. Craig Porter Jr. opened at point guard.
The Cavaliers committed 12 turnovers in the first half, leading to 21 Philadelphia points and a 58-51 deficit at the break. The 76ers stretched the margin to 11 early in the fourth quarter before Cleveland answered with a 10-0 burst.
Three straight Cavalier giveaways quickly turned a tie game into a seven-point hole, but Cleveland responded once more with a 10-2 run. Tyrese Maxey floated in a shot with eight seconds remaining to make it 115-115, setting up Tyson’s game-winning play. Maxey’s half-court heave at the buzzer was off the mark.
By the numbers
Tyson: 39 points on 13-of-17 shooting (7-of-9 from three), five rebounds, four assists
Mobley: 15 points, including three in the final 30 seconds
Donovan Mitchell: 13 points on 13 shots, 12 assists, six turnovers
De’Andre Hunter: 16 points off the bench, seven in the fourth quarter
Porter Jr.: 11 assists
Tyrese Proctor: 13 points in 11 minutes
Joel Embiid paced Philadelphia with 33 points and five rebounds, while Maxey finished with 22 points and nine assists on 9-for-23 shooting.
The Cavaliers have won three of their past four and seven of their last 10. They return home to face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday at 2:30 p.m. ET during the NBA’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day slate.
Source: Hoops Wire
