After recording another statement win, the Cleveland Cavaliers will look to avoid a letdown when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night.
Cleveland improved to a league-best 24-4 with a 124-101 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. The Bucks trailed by as many as 36 points in their first game since winning the NBA Cup on Tuesday.
Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points and Darius Garland added 16 for Cleveland, which made 20 3-pointers and won for the 15th time in 16 home games this season.
“This is who we want to be,” Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell said. “We understand that, yeah, (the Bucks) won the Cup, they’re champions, so to speak right now, so for us to come in and set that tone, doesn’t matter if we’re up 30, down 30, that’s what we want to be. We’re continuing to build the right habits, and we’ve all got to do it together.”
While Cleveland opened the season with 15 straight wins, Philadelphia is climbing back following a 3-14 start.
The Sixers won for the fourth time in their last five games on Friday, beating the Charlotte Hornets 108-98. Joel Embiid returned after missing one game due to a sinus fracture and had 34 points and nine assists.
Tyrese Maxey scored 23 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 22 for Philadelphia, which led by as many as 23. Oubre was 4 of 6 from 3-point range.
“(Oubre) looks like he’s really ready to shoot when the ball at the 3-point line comes out to him,” Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse said. “He’s already into his motion when it hits his hands.”
Nurse said Embiid likely will be rested for Saturday’s matchup against Cleveland, but forward Paul George is expected to play his first back-to-back set of the season.
George has been limited because of a bone bruise in his left knee, but he was encouraged after playing 39 minutes in Friday’s victory.
“I want to try to continue to keep fighting,” said George, who had 10 rebounds, eight assists and five points. “My body is allowing me to so just want to continue to keep momentum going with this unit. We’ve been playing well, and I feel good … so I’m gonna continue to lace it up.”
The Sixers will look to avenge a 114-106 loss to Cleveland on Nov. 13 in Philadelphia. 76ers rookie guard Jared McCain, who scored a career-high 34 points in the loss, will miss the rematch while sidelined indefinitely with a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee.
Cleveland guard Max Strus missed the first matchup against Philadelphia due to an ankle injury, but he made a triumphant return to the lineup against Milwaukee in his season debut on Friday.
Strus averaged 12.2 points while shooting 35.1 percent from beyond the arc last season. He scored nine points on three 3-pointers in 19 minutes off the bench in Friday’s win.
“The same Max we all know,” Mitchell said. “He brings something that we’ve been missing, and I think to say that while having the best record in the league is special and will continue to take us to another level. He’s been working to get here, and we’re glad to have him back.”
Cleveland also received a spark from guard Dean Wade, who started in place of injured forward Isaac Okoro (sprained shoulder) and scored 15 points, including four 3-pointers.
–Field Level Media
