In The Post: Sixers Survive A Comeback By The Cavs
Total domination in the first half by the 76ers allowed them to set the tone early. They sent a message to the Cavaliers with a 27-point lead in the third…
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – FEBRUARY 15: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives past Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center on February 15, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)Total domination in the first half by the 76ers allowed them to set the tone early. They sent a message to the Cavaliers with a 27-point lead in the third quarter. But Cleveland wasn’t having any of it in the second half. They battled back to within four late in the fourth. A valiant effort by the Cavs. But Philadelphia picked up the 118-112 win in the final game before the All-Star break. With the win, the Sixers even the season series at 1-1 with both teams winning on their home floor. A little payback from the blowout Cleveland handed them in late November. Philadelphia is now two games in front of the Cavs in the standings and has now won four games in a row overall and are 38-19 on the season.
Here’s what stood out:
- 11 assists on 13 made baskets in the opening quarter for the 76ers. Including six made threes that helped them lead by 14 in the first, 38-24. Philadelphia led by as much as 25 points at halftime.
- Tobias Harris got the first crack defending All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell. He did a superb job on him in the first half. Never an easy assignment for anyone, Harris held Mitchell to just eight points on 3 for 11 shooting from the field. The Louisville product turned it up in the second half to help Cleveland fight back as he finished with 33 points. Cavs guard Darius Garland was tough to keep out of the lane as he contributed 27. Evan Mobley added 23.
- Harden had 15 and 9 assists in the first half and was in full control as he ran the team. He finished the night with 19 points, 12 assists, and four rebounds.
- Joel Embiid put together a double-double of 29 points and a game-high 14 boards. Coming into the game, the 6-time All-Star needed just five points to reach 10,000 career points and he eclipsed that number very early in the first. A great career from where things began with the big fella dealing with early injuries.
- The Cavaliers did make a few runs, the biggest coming in the fourth as they cut the lead to 10 fueled by an 11-1 run. Much credit goes to Cleveland for not giving up. But Philadelphia certainly took their foot off the gas, relaxed a little by fouling and turned the ball over at a high rate in the second half. The Cavs will be a tough matchup for anyone in the playoffs.
Philadelphia is in a good spot heading into the All-Star break. They’ll be back on the floor next Thursday at home to host the Memphis Grizzlies.
NBA Trade Deadline Recap- Shams vs Woj
Thursday afternoon marked the NBA’s Trade Deadline with a ton of movement across the league. Beyond the trades themselves, this day always marks a clash of two titans, Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania, in the battle of breaking the deals first.
Here’s a look at each deal and who reported on it first, organized by the Sixers first and then in chronological order starting Thursday at midnight.
Sixers trade Matisse Thybulle in three team deal to acquire Jalen McDaniels
Sixers acquire: Jalen McDaniels, two second round picks Hornets acquire: 2023 second round pick, Svi Mykhailiuk
Trail Blazers acquire: Matisse Thybulle
Woj or Shams? Woj
Toronto Raptors acquire C Jakob Poeltl from the San Antonio Spurs
Raptors acquire: Jakob Poeltl
Spurs acquire: Khem Birch, a protected 2024 first-round pick, and two second-round picks
Woj or Shams? Woj (ESPN had a graphic ready for him too)
Phoenix Suns acquire Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Net
Suns acquire: Kevin Durant, TJ Warren
Nets acquire: Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first round picks and a 2028 pick swap
Woj or Shams? This is an interesting one. Woj had the report that the deal was close, but technically, it was Shams that had the final report of the deal and its details first. Point for Shams.
Boston Celtics acquire Mike Muscala from the Oklahoma City Thunder
Celtics acquire: Mike Muscala
Thunder acquire: Justin Jackson and two second-round picks
Woj or Shams? Shams.
Milwaukee Bucks acquire Jae Crowder from the Brooklyn Nets
Bucks acquire: Jae Crowder
Nets acquire: Five (!!) second-round picks
Pacers acquire: Jordan Nwora and two second-round picks
Woj or Shams? Shams.
Denver Nuggets acquire Thomas Bryant from the Los Angeles Lakers
Nuggets acquire: Thomas Bryant
Lakers acquire: Davon Reed and three second-round picks
Woj or Shams? Woj (he even got an Adam Schefter retweet)
Indiana Pacers acquire George Hill and a second round pick from Milwaukee Bucks
Pacers acquire: George Hill and a second-round pick
Bucks “acquire”: A free roster spot and free up $4 million
Woj or Shams? Woj.
Los Angeles Clippers acquire Bones Hyland from the Denver Nuggets
Clippers acquire: Bones Hyland
Nuggets acquire: Clippers’ 2024 and 2025 second-round picks
Woj or Shams? Woj
Phoenix Suns acquire Darius Bazley from the Oklahoma City Thunder
Suns acquire: Darius Bazley
Thunder acquire: Dario Saric
Woj or Shams? Shams.
Golden State Warriors trade away James Wiseman in three-team deal
Warriors acquire: Five (!!) second-round picks, Kevin Knox
Pistons acquire: James Wiseman
Hawks acquire: Saddiq Bey
Woj or Shams? Woj.
Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets trade bench players
Hawks acquire: Justin Holiday and Frank Kaminsky
Rockets acquire: Garrison Matthews and Bruno Fernando
Woj or Shams? Woj.
Los Angeles Clippers acquire Eric Gordon from the Houston Rockets
Clippers acquire: Eric Gordon, three second-round picks
Rockets acquire: John Wall, Danny Green, pick swap
Grizzlies acquire: Luke Kennard
Woj or Shams? Shams tweeted about the trade first. He also provided the Kennard and Wall pieces of the trade first. Woj did, however, report on the second-round picks and Danny Green. Tim MacMahon gave us the pick swap. Shams got more details first so we will credit him.
Los Angeles Lakers trade Patrick Beverley to the Orlando Magic for Mo Bamba
Lakers acquire: Mo Bamba
Magic acquire: Patrick Beverley, second round “compensation”
Woj or Shams? Shams. Shams got this by so much that he accidentally tweeted that Beverley was being traded by the Clippers, not the Lakers, in his first attempt at this tweet.
New Orleans Pelicans acquire Josh Richardson from the San Antonio Spurs
Pelicans acquire: Josh Richardson
Spurs acquire: Devonte’ Graham and four (!!) second-round picks
Woj or Shams? Shams.
Los Angeles Clippers acquire Mason Plumlee in exchange for Reggie Jackson
Clippers acquire: Mason Plumlee
Hornets acquire: Reggie Jackson
Woj or Shams? Woj.
Golden State Warriors acquire Gary Payton II from the Portland Trail Blazers
Warriors acquire: Gary Payton II
Trail Blazers acquire: Five (!!) second picks, Kevin Knox
Woj or Shams? Woj.
Final Totals
Woj: 9
Shams: 7
Second-round picks traded: 38, pending the “second-round compensation” that the Magic received.
