PHILADELPHIA – It wasn’t pretty, it took an extra five minutes and they almost missed with some late mistakes, but the Cleveland Cavaliers matched their longest winning streak of the season – and they can thank their promising young nucleus for that.
The Cavaliers won their third game in a row, defeating leader East Philadelphia 76ers for the second time this season, 112 to 109 in overtime. This time, Philly had MVP candidate Joel Embiid, who finished with 42 points (not just Tobias Harris).
With Andre Drummond (personal reasons), Kevin Love (calf), Matthew Dellavedova (concussion), Taurean Prince (personal reasons), Cedi Osman (spasms in the back) and Larry Nance Jr. (hand fracture), all out on the night of Saturday – veterans expected to provide support – the Cavs’ children have learned to support themselves.
Coach JB Bickerstaff talked about the burden that young people were forced to carry as a result of their injuries. He admitted the growing pains that come with it. Your hope: the organization will be better off with this. This experience will end up paying off. Call it baptism by fire.
Sexton scored 28 points, the team’s best mark, in 11 of 27 shots, five rebounds, three assists and three steals in 45 minutes. With less than two minutes left and the Cavs losing by one, Sexton drained a 3-point go-ahead before greeting 76ers technical assistant Sam Cassell, letting the opposing bank know how big his … um … entrails.
Darius Garland scored 11 of his 25 points in overtime. He also had nine assists. Garland said early Saturday morning that, although opponent defenses are determined to prevent him from entering the front line, he will continue to play his own game. He did just that, sliding onto the track for skillful finishes and patented floats, two of which came in overtime to keep the Sixers at bay.
Isaac Okoro had his best night as a rookie before dropping out. He set his career record, 15 points, with eight rebounds, three steals and three assists. Okoro recorded Cleveland’s first three points in the OT.
Jarrett Allen, the defensive anchor, fought Embiid the entire time. Allen finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Even Dean Wade, the 24-year-old substitute holder, contributed six points and 12 rebounds. Cavs have been 3-0 since Wade joined the starting group.
After leading the entire first half, with a nine-point lead at the break, Cavs opened the game with six consecutive errors, forcing Bickerstaff to time out, trying to regroup. The Cavs missed two more shots before Okoro’s offensive rebound allowed them to finally break the ice in the third quarter. Despite leaving the locker room and scoring 16 points in the third, Cavs were clinging to a two-point advantage in the fourth period.
They made enough moves in the last 17 minutes. They showed enough balance against one of the best in the league, 14-2 at home, overcoming four consecutive mistakes at the end of the regulation and then an expensive turn that allowed the 76ers to play the game with a ball possession with 20 seconds to go. end of the OT. Cleveland fought until the final bell, crowning a tiring February with his third consecutive victory.
Homecoming
Philadelphia swingman Lamar Stevens, a native of Philadelphia, returned home for the first time in his NBA career. Stevens received an extended playing time, failing to score in 19 minutes.
Streak broke
At the start of the second quarter, Dylan Windler missed a 3-point corner, ending a string of nine triple feats that covered two games. It was the longest consecutive streak beyond the arc since Kyrie Irving in 2015. He finished with eight points, none of them.
Next
The Cavs will end this two-game mini trip to Houston on Monday night. The complaint is scheduled for 9 pm
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New Cavs face masks for sale: This is where you can buy Cleveland Cavaliers-themed facial covers for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($ 14.99) and a pack of 3 ($ 24.99). All NBA proceeds donated to charities.
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