Joel Embiid had 36 points (15 in the first quarter) and 18 rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers went on a 10-1 run in the fourth quarter to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-109 for their sixth straight win.
It was tied at 98 when P.J. Tucker’s cutting layup put the 76ers ahead for good with 7:21 left. They pulled away to a 108-99 lead with 5:19 left.
The Cavaliers got within 110-107 on Cedi Osman’s 2 free throws with 2:37 to play, but Tyrese Maxey answered with a 30-foot 3-pointer, and the Cavaliers got no closer.
In the fourth quarter, James Harden had 5 of his 12 assists, 4 with the game within 5 points. A minute later, Tucker had 2 of his 3 steals in 17 seconds, the first leading to Harden’s free throws and the second to Harden’s free throws.
Harden had 28 points, 12 assists and 3 steals, and Maxey added 23 points with 5 3-pointers. The 76ers had 3 20-point scorers. Harden assisted on 6 of Maxey’s 8 baskets, 4 of them 3-pointers.
For the Cavaliers, Caris LeVert had 24 points (15 on 5 3-pointers) and 6 assists off the bench. Donovan Mitchell had 21 points and 3 steals but went 1 for 7 from 3.
The 76ers shot 52.0% from the field and 47.2% from 3 to the Cavaliers’ 47.1% and 34.1%. The Cavaliers gave up 13 offensive rebounds, about 5 more than usual for the shots the 76ers missed. They outscored the 76ers 45-19 off the bench. The 76ers’ starters outscored the Cavaliers 60-46 in 24 minutes together.