Ben Simmons had 26 points (20 in the paint) and 10 rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 106-99.
Mike Scott’s corner 3-pointer answered Cedi Osman’s driving layup and put the 76ers back ahead for good with 2:37 left in the fourth quarter.
The Cavaliers got within 100-99 on Jordan Clarkson’s driving layup with 1:23 to play, but Joel Embiid answered with a putback dunk, and the Cavaliers got no closer.
Embiid’s 2 free throws with 29.5 seconds left made it 104-99 and put it away.
During clutch time, the 76ers outscored the Cavaliers 9-8. Embiid scored 5 of the 76ers’ 9 on 1 for 4 shooting and 3 for 3 at the line.
For the Cavaliers, Collin Sexton scored 26 points (14 in the third quarter), and Clarkson went 0 for 8 from 3.
The 76ers shot 49.4% from the field and 34.8% from 3 to the Cavaliers’ 39.6% and 34.2%. The Cavaliers got 9 offensive rebounds, about 5 fewer than usual for the shots they missed. They outscored the 76ers 21-4 off turnovers.