The Cavaliers dominated the 76ers and won 119-95 in the NBA Cup group stage, on a night that was particularly intriguing due to LeBron James’ return to Ohio as an opponent.
Donovan Mitchell led the winners with 23 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds, while Evan Mobley added 22 points, six rebounds, and four assists.
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Cleveland took control of the game early on and pulled ahead 46-30 early in the second quarter, following an alley-oop dunk by Mobley. The lead reached as many as 25 points in the final quarter, with the Sixers never really managing to get back into the game.
Mario Hezonja stood out, coming off the bench to provide key contributions for the Cavaliers.
The Croatian played for 26:30 minutes and finished the game with 15 points and 10 rebounds, recording a double-double.
He went 6-for-13 from the field, 2-for-8 from three-point range, and 1-for-2 from the free-throw line, while nine of his ten rebounds were defensive. He also added one assist and one steal, posting a +11 plus-minus rating while on the court.
His contribution was even more significant given that the Cavaliers played without Jarrett Allen, who was sidelined due to a right knee injury.
On the other hand, LeBron James’s return to Cleveland didn’t go as he’d hoped.
The 41-year-old forward scored just 8 points on 3-for-12 shooting and 0-for-4 from three-point range in 31:43 of playing time, while also grabbing seven rebounds, three assists, and six turnovers.
It was only the tenth time in the regular season of his 24-year career that LeBron failed to score in double digits.
Cavaliers fans greeted him with mixed reactions and boos every time he touched the ball in the first half, following his decision this summer to choose Philadelphia over a third return to Cleveland.
For the Sixers, Jaylen Brown scored 20 points, V.J. Edgcomb had 19, and Tyrese Maxey had 17, while Joel Embiid had a very rough night, scoring just six points on 0-for-9 shooting from the field.
*photo source: AP
