By: Kylan Watson
After falling to the New York Knicks in the first game of the 2024 NBA In-Season Tournament, and faced the undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers in their first back-to-back of the season. Both teams traded blows throughout this game and despite a huge effort from Philly. Cleveland beat the Sixers 114-106.
The Sixers were extremely shorthanded in this game Joel Embiid (knee injury management), Paul George (knee injury management), Tyrese Maxey (hamstring injury), and Andre Drummond (illness) missed this game. That inserted Jared McCain into the starting lineup and he had another great performance when given extended minutes. He scored 34 points (highest scoring output for a rookie so far this season), and 10 assists in this contest. The Cavs could not stop him in this contest and he was the head of the spear for Philly’s offensive scheme in this game.
McCain is making it pretty hard to justify the Sixers not playing him as much as possible. Especially, without Tyrese Maxey for the next few weeks last night he showed he can match his game pretty well with Embiid and Paul George. McCain needs to play whenever he can, he is becoming one of the biggest x-factors for the Sixers so far this season. His play tonight kept the Sixers in this game and they even had an eight-point lead over the Cavaliers in this contest.
However, he just did not get enough help in this contest to keep Cleveland at bay. The Cavaliers stormed back into this game thanks to Donovan Mitchell, who finally found his offensive rhythm in the fourth quarter and once he started making it rain from the three-point line. Philly had no answers for it and just did not have enough defensive wings available to stop him in this contest. He scored 23 points and powered Cleveland to a come from behind victory over a game Sixers squad.
Philly has noting to be a shamed of as they took the undefeated Cavaliers to the limit and would have probably made this game even more interesting if Embiid or George were cleared to play in the contest. The Cavaliers were able to continue to hit just enough shots to stay ahead of Philly in this contest.
The Sixers have a lot of work to do, but against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks the pieces are there for them to compete in the loaded Eastern Conference, if they can get healthy and work out the team chemistry with their “Big Three.”
Philly now will prepare to face the Orlando Magic on Friday night in their second game of the 2024 In-Season Tournament. Orlando does not have Paolo Banchero available for the foreseeable future, and without him they have some glaring weaknesses on the defensive end. That the Sixers should be able to exploit especially with Embiid and George most likely being available for this game. Philly will be in great position to win this game if they can cash in on the high-percentage shooting opportunities created off their ball movement.
They were finally able to do that tonight against the Cavaliers and kept it interesting and if they are able to do that on Friday they should be able to get their first win of the 2024 In-Season Tournament and third win this season.
