76ers Pinpoint Biggest Factor in Loss vs. Cavaliers

What went wrong for the 76ers on Tuesday?

After going 2-2 last week, kicking off a back-to-back set on a low note before getting back on track with two dominant wins, the Philadelphia 76ers didn’t look like the best version of themselves on Tuesday night when they hosted the Cleveland Cavaliers for In-Season Tournament play.

Through the first quarter of action, the Sixers struggled to hit on more than 35 percent of their shots. As a result, they were outscored 27-24. During the second quarter, they managed to get up more shots than the Cavaliers, improving their field goal percentage to 50. Unfortunately, Cleveland just shot much more efficiently, which led to the Sixers getting outscored 38-29. 

Heading into halftime, the Sixers trailed by 12 points.

“The physicality of the ball on both ends was, you know, really the big difference in the first half,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said after the game. “When we drive around them, they would body us out the lane and we were just a little jumpy. Thought we were jumping our feet, turning our feet, not sliding early.”

The first half of action looked like a potential blowout in the making in favor of Cleveland. Although it wasn’t a pretty comeback, the Sixers forced their way back into the game. Upping the physicality from their end, the Sixers figured out a way to counter Cleveland’s attack. 

“Defensively, we got aggressive,” Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey explained. “We were allowed to kind of play physical out there, and that helped us, then we got stops. Once you get stops, you get out a run, you have to score the ball. You know, pick-and-roll start working, open up some stuff for us. We realized some mismatches that we had down low, and we start scoring the ball. Honestly, once we did that, it was good for us.”

“Obviously we did a much better job in the second half, at least getting some stops and playing a little harder and more physical,” Nick Nurse added.

By outscoring the Cavaliers 57-45 in the second half of regulation, the Sixers knotted the game at 110 in the final seconds. After failing on their chance to capitalize by getting a go-ahead bucket on the final offensive possession of the fourth quarter, the Sixers’ comeback led them to a chance to win in overtime rather than the final quarter. 

From then on, the Sixers found themselves out-rebounded and outscored, leading to a disappointing 122-119 loss.

“You got to be the most physical team every game,” said Sixers veteran Patrick Beverley. “I think we weathered up or down a little bit tonight. We showed some physicality early and laid off, applied pressure, then laid off. I think it’s all about setting the tone. Being that the most physical team out there, and we didn’t do it for a whole game. I think we did it for like two quarters.”

With that loss, the Sixers collected their fourth of the regular season. Unfortunately, the stakes were higher, and the defeat likely led the Sixers to elimination in the In-Season Tournament. Now, they’ll look to bounce back as they close out the back-to-back with a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.