While you were busy watching the Eagles break the hearts of everyone in the city of Philadelphia yesterday, the 76ers actually went and did a good thing. They ended a five-game road losing streak and blew out the Cleveland Cavaliers by a score of 114-95. Seeing as most people weren’t watching this low-stakes affair, here’s how it all went down.
Top Performers
Tobias Harris: 27 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds
Ben Simmons: 10 points, 11 assists
James Ennis III: 14 points, 4 rebounds
Game Summary
Just a few days after the Cavs nearly upset them at the Wells Fargo Center, it was clear the Sixers were playing with a little extra something today. Jumping out to an early first-quarter lead, the 76ers never took their foot off the gas.
They outscored the Cavs 33-22 in the first quarter and 35-22 in the second. Collectively as a team they shot 67% in the first half.
Outside of some tenacious defense and offense from the Philly unit, the only other exciting piece to the first half was that a bird showed up. This really had no effect or impact on the game but I feel it’s important the people know about it. (The bird did return in the third quarter as well).
The Sixers continued their aggressive approach into the second half, applying just enough pressure to the Cavs to keep them at a comfortable distance. The blowout nature to the game allowed Joel Embiid to get some much needed time off, as he only clocked in 21 minutes on the day.
Tobias Harris was particularly effective on this Sunday afternoon showdown. He was especially involved on the ball, creating a lot of shots for both himself and others. After a few rough games from the field, a 27 point performance on 86% shooting is a perfect way to bounce back.
The 76ers get two days off back home before they take on the New York Knicks. Philadelphia plays 13 of their next 18 games at the Wells Fargo Center.
Key Takeaways
It’s a Team Game
The 76ers recorded 33 total team assists, 6 players scored in double figures, 10 total players scored, and 8 total players recorded an assist. This current 76ers group has been highly criticized recently for their lack of chemistry. Putting in a full team performance against a team that very recently gave them problems is a good sign.
Harris Haters Silenced
Tobias Harris had an extremely rough start to the 2019/2020 season (check out my story on that: here). However, with Sunday’s performance, it appears he may have found his groove. Harris led both teams in +/- with a score of +23.
Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
