Game Grades: Cavaliers Overtime Win Over 76ers
Not many thought the Cleveland Cavaliers would be able to pull off a win over the Philadelphia 76ers. They were without Donovan Mitchell and Caris LeVert, were the away team, and were going up against a top team in the Eastern Conference.
Yet, the Cavs defeated Philly in a gutsy overtime performance which showed the true grit this team has.
Let's get into some grades for this win.
Cavaliers Offense: B+
There was a lot to like about what the Cavaliers were doing on the offensive end. Cleveland established a strong presence in the paint and outscored the 76ers 68-52 close to the basket.
That's not an easy thing to do when you're going up against a defensive player such as Joel Embiid.
Darius Garland led the scoring with 32 points while shooting 40% from the floor. Jarrett Allen also scored a season-high 26 points which is also the most points he's scored since Feb 4, 2022.
Nov 21, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) picks up a loose ball past Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) during the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
© Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland's third quarter was slightly concerning as the team scored just 23 points while shooting 38% in the 12-minute stretch. This is what allowed Philly to get back into the game and hurt their overall grade in this category.
It goes back to something J.B. Bickerstaff has preached since day one, consistency.
Cavaliers Defense: B
Cleveland may have won the game, but there was a lot left to be desired on the defensive front. The two areas that really hurt the Cavs were fouls and points scored in transition.
The 76ers shot 34 free throws on Tuesday night, 16 of them coming from Embiid. Allen and Evan Mobley each found themselves in early foul trouble which forced them to back off slightly on defense.
Philadelphia scored 26 of their 119 points via the fast break which is just way too many. Cleveland needs to hustle back in transition and stop the ball.
Thankfully, neither of these two things cost the Cavaliers a victory but it's not something that can continue to happen.
Overall: B+
The Cavs won, let's focus on that. Cleveland played a fantastic, well-balanced first half but struggled more in the final two quarters. They still kept their head in the game and pulled through in OT.
This was an impressive win considering they were down two players and there are a lot of positive takeaways from it.
