CLEVELAND – Joel Embiid had 36 points and 18 rebounds and played the final 4:12 after initially being called for his sixth foul, leading the Philadelphia 76ers to their sixth straight win, 118-109 over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night .
James Harden added 28 and Tyrese Maxi added 23 points for the Sixers. They were up 108–101 when Embiid was whistled for an offensive charge on Evan Mobley while making a jumper.
As Cleveland fans began to celebrate Embiid’s apparent disqualification, Sixers coach Doc Rivers immediately challenged the call, which was overturned after replay review and the superstar was allowed to remain on the floor.
With Embiid in foul trouble, the Cavs attacked the rim and closed to 110–107 before Maxi sank a 3-pointer and the 76ers made five straight free throws in the final 51 seconds to close it out.
Caris LeVert scored 24 points and Donovan Mitchell added 21 for the Cavs, playing their second night of back-to-back losses. Cleveland was without center Jarrett Allen, who missed his third straight game with an injured right eye.
The Cavs have tried various defensive schemes — double- and triple-teams, shadowing — to try to slow down the versatile Embiid, a rare big man who can play outside on the perimeter and inside.
Cleveland coach JB Bickerstaff said, “This is a unique individual we are talking about.” “We’ll keep throwing things at it and see if anything sticks.”
It didn’t start well for Cleveland as Embiid drew two fouls on the Cavs in the first 43 seconds.
But even though he was carrying 65 pounds, Mobley showed no fear guarding the All-Star center and got plenty of help as the Cavs fell on Embiid whenever he touched the ball near the hoop.
Embiid made his trips to the foul line count, failing all 10 attempts.
Down by 13, the Sixers went on an 18–1 run in the third quarter, while holding the Cavs to more than six minutes without a field goal.
Cleveland got a big lift from its bench in building a 60–55 halftime lead as Levert scored 14 points and Sedy Osman added eight.
Levert closed out the second quarter by hitting a 3-pointer in the final seconds, and was then rewarded with a foul shot after Harden was called for a flagrant-1 foul for not allowing him to land after shooting. I went.
tip-ins
76ers: F Jalen McDaniel (hip injury) missed his first game with the injury this season after suffering the injury Sunday against Washington. McDaniel was acquired from Charlotte on Feb. 9 … NBA dunk champion Mac McClung is on G League assignment with Delaware. McClung has yet to appear in a game for Philadelphia.
Mounted: Lamar Stevens started for Allen, who has missed three games. … Mobley is one of three players to average at least 15 points, eight rebounds, two assists and one block while shooting 50% from the field. Embiid and Anthony Davis are the others. … Cleveland has 10 games left — five home, five road. … G Ricky Rubio sat out his “bobblehead night” as the team continues to monitor his minutes following knee surgery. Before the game, Bickerstaff stated that Rubio was available but only in an emergency.
next
76ers: Friday night in Charlotte.
Mounted: Friday night host Washington.
This article was originally published on the Akron Beacon Journal: Replays overturned Starr Center’s sixth foul, 76ers stopped the Cavs
