The Philadelphia 76ers are in Cleveland on Monday night to take on the Cavaliers after winning in Washington on Saturday night, 119-113. The Sixers had lost four games in a row heading into Washington and are 2-8 over their last ten games.
Philadelphia will be taking on the hottest team in the NBA, as the Cavaliers have won nine straight games and haven’t lost since a 126-118 defeat at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks back on January 24th.
Sixers game information
Who: Philadelphia 76ers (31-21) at Cleveland Cavaliers (35-16)
When: 7:00 pm EST
Where: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, Cleveland OH
Watch: Bally Sports Ohio, NBA League Pass, NBC Florida
Sixers vs Wizards: Betting info
Spread: Sixers +10 | Cavaliers -10
Moneyline: Sixers +370| Cavaliers -485
Total: Over/Under 230.5
Latest on the Sixers
The Sixers are heading into Cleveland with a revamped roster after acquiring Buddy Hield and Cameron Payne at the trade deadline. With their two new players, the Sixers are 1-1, having lost to the Hawks in their debut with the team and then defeating the Wizards on Saturday night, 119-113.
Having lost reigning MVP Joel Embiid for what could be the remainder of the regular season, the team has been dealing with starting guard DeAnthony Melton being out of the lineup with a back injury that’s caused him to miss a month of time. Robert Covington, a key reserve on the team, hasn’t played since December 30th, and forward Nico Batum is out again as he battles a hamstring injury.
The Sixers aren’t the same team without Joel Embiid, and the win over the Wizards shouldn’t get the fans excited, as the Wizards have the second-worst record in the whole league. The Sixers are going to have to find a away to stay competitive and get some wins in the near future, which may be tough considering they have games against the Cavs, Celtics, Bucks, and Knicks all on the horizon.
The moves the Sixers have made at the trade deadline leave the team with a lot of questions. Guard Kyle Lowry is going to sign with the Sixers in a feel-good move for a player who grew up in Philly and played college at Villanova. Lowry will be a quality addition to the Sixers bench and an upgrade over their previous reserves. While Lowry isn’t the player he was in the past, as he approaches his 38th birthday, he understands what his role on the team will be and will look to give some excitement to his hometown team.
Latest on the Cavaliers
The Cavaliers are the hottest team in the league right now, having gone 9-1 over their last ten games and haven’t lost in almost a month. Their recent run has propelled them to 2nd in the Eastern Conference standings behind the league-leading Boston Celtics and above the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks.
The Cavaliers are led by Donovan Mitchell, who’s having another career year and a better overall season than he had in his first year in Cleveland. The All-Star is averaging 28.2 points which is just below last seasons average of 28.3 but he’s also averaging 5.4 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game. Adding in his 1.9 steals per game, those marks represent career highs for the guard and he’s brought that Cavaliers to the top of the conference.
While Mitchell is the top player on the roster, the Cavaliers also feature Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert, and Max Strus as players that are all averaging double digits in scoring and Allen is leading the team in rebounding at 10.6 per game which is also good for 7th in the entire league. Allen always creates problems for opposing teams with his athleticism and size, which he carries 243 lbs. on his 6’9″ frame, which is improved by his 7’6″ wingspan. Allen is a tough assignment on both ends of the floor.
What to watch for…
While the Sixers will feel good about the win on Saturday night over the Wizards, they’d be wise to remember that the Wizards are one of the worst teams in the league. Tonight, they’ll be going up against one of the best teams in the league, and, despite having new faces and scoring options in Hield and Payne, they don’t look to have the firepower to compete with the Cavaliers.
Guard Tyrese Maxey does have the ability to change a game, and with the addition of Hield into the starting backcourt, he should be able to see some better looks. While the Sixers have the 6th best offensive rating in the league, that was largely dependent on Joel Embiid and what he was able to do this season. The Cavaliers have a middle-of-the-pack offensive rating of 116.0, which is good enough for 15th in the league, but their defensive rating of 110.0 is the second-best in the league.
Tonight’s game will be difficult for the Sixers as they are without Embiid, Melton, and Batum again, but the trio of Maxey, Hield, and forward Tobias Harris should be able to get the team heading in the right direction. A big factor in th game, with reserve center Mo Bamba questionable with knee issues, will be how starting center Paul Reed is able to perform against Allen and the Cavaliers.
If the Sixers find themselves in foul trouble early with Mitchell, Garland, and Allen, they could be in for a long night. While Reed has performed well in a limited reserve role, he’s going to need to have a better game than the 6.8 points and 8 rebounds that he’s currently averaging over the last few games. Allen and his size will present a problem for the Sixers young center and he’s going to have to answer the call for the team to have a chance against the Cavaliers.
Prediction
Sixers 118 – Cavaliers 123
