76ers Break Their 7-game Drought, Defeating the Cavs 132-129

The Sixers pick up their first win in just over two weeks. They hand the east-leading Cavs just their 8-loss on the season. The Sixers deny the Cavs of the season sweep and play a nearly perfect game. At this point in the season, it seems the Sixers need to make a decision: do they keep pushing for the playoffs, or do they start quietly tanking?

Of the 8 players that got into the game for the Sixers tonight, 6 of them scored in double digits. The usual leaders emerged, Paul George had 30 points and Tyrese Maxey scored 29 points. Unlike in most games this season, Maxey came out of the gates firing, scoring 13 points in the first quarter alone. This really set the tone for the team as they were able to post 39 points in the first frame and win it by 6 points.

The Sixers then gave up this lead in the very next quarter, losing it by 9 points and going into halftime down 3. Despite this down quarter, they picked it back up in the second half, taking back the lead at the end of the third, then holding the Cavs off in the 4th.

Winning the second half the way they did would not have been possible without that explosive first quarter. Going into tonight, the Sixers ranked 28th in points per 1st quarter at 26.4 points, and their average margin for the frame was -0.8 which is good for 19th. Against a team like the Cavs, however, once you give them daylight and spot them a lead, it is very hard to come back.

Which makes it all the more impressive how they came out of the half.

In the 3rd quarter, they dominated the inside game and gained a lot of second-chance opportunities. As a team, they outrebounded the Cavs 43-37 for the entire game. With Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond out, the Sixers needed some slack to be carried and they got that in the form of Kelly Oubre and Guerschon Yabusele. The two forwards had 13 rebounds a piece and absolutely hounded Jarrett Allen on the glass.

Justin Edwards also had some timely rebounds late in the game recording 6 total, but aside from that he also hit some timely shots. Edwards finished with 15 points off the bench and went 3 of 6 from three. Eric Gordon also had some timely makes and finished with 15 points while going 4 of 4 from three. As a team, they shot 53.8% from beyond the arc which skies their season average.

They got to the line a remarkable 27 times and converted 23 of them. Ultimately, they fended off a really strong Cavs team.

Three guys dominated for the Cavs tonight. Of course, Donovan Mitchell, the game-high scorer with 37, and Darius Garland, a 26-point wingman, had their typical nights. Off the bench for the Cavs came an unlikely sharpshooter. Ty Jerome scored a massive 33 points tonight and drained all 8 of his threes. With Garland and Mitchell commanding all of the focus, Ty Jerome was easily able to slip away and get nice open corner threes. 

The Sixers are still on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs as they are two games back of the final play-in spot. Their next game is at Chicago, the team that currently holds that final play-in spot.

They then come home for a brutal 6-game home stand. Some key matchups include the Nuggets, Celtics, and Mavericks. A really tough stretch that actually continues for the entirety of February.

So now is the time for the Sixers to make a decision. Do they keep their foot on the gas, or do they pull the plug? Right now, they hold the 7th pick in the draft, which would mean it goes to OKC. So whatever they do, it is 100% necessary they make a deal with OKC to get the full rights to their pick back. 

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