Game ID: 22301067
Philadelphia 76ers @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Friday, March 29, 2024 at 7:30 PM ET
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CLE 28 29 28 32 117PHI 25 30 32 27 114
CLE vs PHI ScoutingCLE vs PHI Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
CLE availability going into 3/22 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Strus missed 9 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 8 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 6 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 3/16 after 25, 13 min since (120% of 11)
NEW LeVert 28 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Okoro 26 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Niang 21 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Merrill 17 to 24 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/24 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 3 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Strus missed 10 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 9 since 3/06, returns tonight: 21 min (67% of 32)
OUT Wade missed 7 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 3/16 after 25, 14 min since (125% of 11)
NEW LeVert 28 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Okoro 26 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Niang 21 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Merrill 17 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Morris Sr. 15 to 21 min over the last 3
CLE availability going into 3/25 · back-to-backOUT Mitchell missed 4 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Strus missed 11 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 8 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Eva. Mobley back 3/24 after 9, 21 min since (67% of 32)
BACK Thompson back 3/16 after 25, 13 min since (119% of 11)
NEW Okoro 26 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Niang 21 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Merrill 17 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Morris Sr. 15 to 21 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 5 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Strus missed 12 since 3/05, returns tonight: 24 min (75% of 33)
OUT Wade missed 9 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Eva. Mobley back 3/24 after 9, 23 min since (73% of 32)
NEW Niang 21 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Merrill 17 to 25 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 6 since 3/18, returns tonight: 32 min (90% of 36)
OUT Wade missed 10 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Strus back 3/27 after 12, 24 min since (75% of 33)
BACK Eva. Mobley back 3/24 after 9, 26 min since (81% of 32)
NEW Niang 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Merrill 17 to 25 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 11 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 3/29 after 6, 32 min since (90% of 36)
BACK Strus back 3/27 after 12, 26 min since (79% of 33)
BACK Eva. Mobley back 3/24 after 9, 27 min since (85% of 32)
NEW Niang 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Merrill 17 to 25 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 12 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 2 since 3/29, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 3/29 after 6, 32 min since (88% of 36)
BACK Strus back 3/27 after 12, 26 min since (81% of 33)
BACK Eva. Mobley back 3/24 after 9, 27 min since (86% of 32)
NEW Merrill 17 to 23 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 4/03 · back-to-backOUT Okoro missed 2 since 3/31, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 13 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 3 since 3/29, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 3/29 after 6, 32 min since (88% of 36)
BACK Strus back 3/27 after 12, 28 min since (86% of 33)
NEW Merrill 17 to 24 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 4/06 · 2 days' restOUT Okoro missed 3 since 3/31, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 14 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 4 since 3/29, returns tonight: 2 min (13% of 13)
BACK Mitchell back 3/29 after 6, 34 min since (94% of 36)
BACK Strus back 3/27 after 12, 30 min since (92% of 33)
PHI availability going into 3/22 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 23 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Harris missed 3 since 3/16, returns tonight: 41 min (120% of 34)
OUT Melton missed 11 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 37 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Maxey back 3/12 after 4, 35 min since (92% of 38)
BACK Dowtin Jr. back 3/20 after 3, 12 min since (102% of 12)
NEW Reed 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Bamba 13 to 21 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 3/24 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 24 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 12 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 38 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Harris back 3/22 after 3, 41 min since (120% of 34)
BACK Dowtin Jr. back 3/20 after 3, 12 min since (102% of 12)
NEW Bamba 13 to 24 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 3/25 · back-to-backOUT Embiid missed 25 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 13 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 39 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Harris back 3/22 after 3, 39 min since (116% of 34)
BACK Dowtin Jr. back 3/20 after 3, 12 min since (102% of 12)
NEW Bamba 13 to 24 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 26 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 14 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 40 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Harris back 3/22 after 3, 35 min since (102% of 34)
BACK Dowtin Jr. back 3/20 after 3, 12 min since (102% of 12)
NEW Bamba 13 to 21 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 27 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 15 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 41 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Dowtin Jr. missed 2 since 3/25, out tonight
BACK Harris back 3/22 after 3, 36 min since (105% of 34)
NEW Bamba 13 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Martin 12 to 18 min over the last 4
PHI availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 28 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 16 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 42 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Martin missed 2 since 3/27, returns tonight: 10 min (84% of 12)
OUT Dowtin Jr. missed 3 since 3/25, returns tonight: 5 min (41% of 12)
BACK Harris back 3/22 after 3, 35 min since (104% of 34)
NEW Bamba 13 to 21 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 29 since 2/01, returns tonight: 29 min (85% of 35)
OUT Melton missed 17 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 43 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Martin back 3/31 after 2, 10 min since (84% of 12)
BACK Dowtin Jr. back 3/31 after 3, 5 min since (41% of 12)
PHI availability going into 4/04 · 1 day's restOUT Maxey missed 2 since 3/31, returns tonight: 41 min (109% of 38)
OUT Melton missed 18 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 44 since 1/02, not on tonight's roster
BACK Embiid back 4/02 after 29, 29 min since (85% of 35)
BACK Martin back 3/31 after 2, 11 min since (90% of 12)
BACK Dowtin Jr. back 3/31 after 3, 5 min since (41% of 12)
PHI availability going into 4/06 · 1 day's restOUT Melton missed 19 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Bamba missed 2 since 4/02, out tonight
OUT Dowtin Jr. missed 2 since 4/02, returns tonight: 14 min (121% of 12)
BACK Maxey back 4/04 after 2, 41 min since (109% of 38)
BACK Embiid back 4/02 after 29, 31 min since (90% of 35)
BACK Martin back 3/31 after 2, 14 min since (118% of 12)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 17 free throws a game; Allen at 18 and Garland at 15 a game. Without Mitchell (6 straight), Wade (10 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 108, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Maxey at 22 and Harris at 16 a game. Without Embiid (27 straight), Melton (15 straight), Covington (41 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Cleveland 110, Philadelphia 107, Philadelphia keeping it close.
3/22 @ MIN 91-104 — CLE notes
CLE lost 91-104. CLE shot 42% (34 of 81) to MIN's 48%, 7 of 29 from three. Garland led with 19 (8 of 21, 0 of 6 from three); LeVert added 16, Allen 15. Q2 was theirs, 29-21, turning a 5-point deficit into a 3-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 83-62 against them. Allen's -18 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/24 @ MIA 84-121 — CLE notes
CLE lost 84-121. CLE shot 42% (30 of 72) to MIA's 52%, 9 of 29 from three. CLE turned it over 17 times to MIA's 9, and MIA turned those into 13 steals. The glass went 30-44 against them. Mobley led with 15 (4 of 6, 5 of 6 at the line). Q4 was theirs, 27-31, but the other 3 periods went 90-57 against them. LeVert's -26 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/25 vs CHA 115-92 — CLE notes
CLE won 115-92. CLE shot 53% (46 of 86) to CHA's 42%, 17 of 41 from three, and got to the line 10 times to CHA's 18. The glass went 47-33 for them. Allen led with 17 (7 of 9); Mobley added 17, Niang 17. The hinge was Q2, 31-17: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 25. Niang was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
3/27 @ CHA 111-118 — CLE notes
CLE lost 111-118. CLE took 9 more shots (85 to 76), but shot 49% to CHA's 58%, 19 of 44 from three, and got to the line 14 times to CHA's 22. Allen led with 24 (11 of 14); Strus added 19, Merrill 17. Q1 was theirs, 43-33, but the other 3 periods went 85-68 against them. They led by as many as 14. Okoro's -13 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/29 vs PHI 117-114 — CLE notes
CLE won 117-114. CLE shot 55% (45 of 82) to PHI's 45%, 16 of 37 from three. Niang led with 25 (10 of 14, 5 of 8 from three); Mobley added 20, Strus 15. The hinge was Q4, 32-27: CLE came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 3. Garland was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
3/31 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 28 and Porter Jr. at 17 a game. Without Murray (4 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 15 free throws a game; Allen at 16 and Eva. Mobley at 16 a game. Without Wade (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-4 a night and Cleveland minus-3 and the line, where Denver takes 22 free throws a game to Cleveland's 15. Call it Denver 112, Cleveland 107.
4/02 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 122, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Collins at 24 and Sexton at 23 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Clarkson (3 straight), Lofton Jr. (11 straight), Horton-Tucker (2 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 16 free throws a game; Eva. Mobley at 17 and Allen at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Wade (12 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the line, where Utah takes 25 free throws a game to Cleveland's 16 and the arc, Cleveland at 39 percent from three to Utah's 33. Call it Utah 114, Cleveland 113, Cleveland keeping it close.
4/03 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 15 free throws a game; Booker at 30 and Durant at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 113, shooting 52 percent and 41 from three, 16 free throws a game; Allen at 19 and Eva. Mobley at 18 a game. Without Okoro (2 straight), Wade (13 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-8 a night and Cleveland minus-2. Call it Phoenix 115, Cleveland 111, Cleveland keeping it close.
4/06 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Davis at 26 and James at 25 a game. That is 3 straight wins. They have won the glass by 7 a night. Without Reddish (2 straight), Vanderbilt (27 straight), Wood (21 straight). 2 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Allen at 19 and Eva. Mobley at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Okoro (3 straight), Wade (14 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-7 a night and Cleveland minus-6 and the line, where the Lakers take 23 free throws a game to Cleveland's 18. Call it the Lakers 118, Cleveland 112.
3/22 @ LAL 94-101 — PHI notes
PHI lost 94-101. PHI took 23 more shots (96 to 73), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 34% to LAL's 44%, 8 of 37 from three, and got to the line 24 times to LAL's 33. PHI turned it over 8 times to LAL's 21. The glass went 42-54 against them. Maxey led with 27 (10 of 26, 1 of 9 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Oubre Jr. added 19, Harris 16. Q2 was theirs, 29-26, turning a 1-point deficit into a 2-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 75-65 against them. Harris's -9 in 41 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/24 @ LAC 121-107 — PHI notes
PHI won 121-107. PHI shot 53% (48 of 90) to LAC's 48%, 18 of 37 from three, and got to the line 9 times to LAC's 18. PHI turned it over 8 times to LAC's 13. Maxey led with 24 (9 of 17, 3 of 5 from three); Harris added 24, Payne 23. The hinge was Q1, 41-29: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 21. Reed was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/25 @ SAC 96-108 — PHI notes
PHI lost 96-108. PHI shot 41% (34 of 82) to SAC's 44%, 11 of 34 from three, and got to the line 20 times to SAC's 28. PHI turned it over 15 times to SAC's 7. Maxey led with 29 (10 of 16, 5 of 7 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Harris added 12, Wilson 10. Q4 was theirs, 28-25, the deficit cut from 15 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 83-68 against them. Lowry's -22 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/27 vs LAC 107-108 — PHI notes
PHI lost 107-108. PHI shot 48% (39 of 82) to LAC's 44%, 13 of 33 from three. PHI turned it over 12 times to LAC's 6, and LAC turned those into 8 steals. Maxey led with 26 (9 of 20, 3 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Oubre Jr. added 17, Hield 17. Q1 was theirs, 30-18, but the other 3 periods went 90-77 against them. They led by as many as 15. Batum's -7 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/29 @ CLE 114-117 — PHI notes
PHI lost 114-117. PHI took 12 more shots (94 to 82), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 45% to CLE's 55%, 16 of 40 from three. Lowry led with 23 (7 of 12, 4 of 8 from three); Harris added 21, Maxey 16. Q3 was theirs, 32-28, turning a 2-point deficit into a 2-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 89-82 against them. Oubre Jr.'s -11 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/31 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 98 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 30 from three, 17 free throws a game; Trent Jr. at 21 and Dick at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 16 a night. Without Barrett (8 straight), Quickley (5 straight). 3 days' rest. Philadelphia comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 108, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Maxey at 24 and Harris at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Embiid (28 straight), Melton (16 straight), Covington (42 straight). One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Philadelphia has been plus-2 a night and Toronto minus-16 and the turnovers, Toronto giving it away 18 times a game to Philadelphia's 10. Call it Philadelphia 113, Toronto 109, Toronto keeping it close.
4/02 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 44 from three, 16 free throws a game; Maxey at 24 and Harris at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Embiid (29 straight), Melton (17 straight), Covington (43 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jal. Williams at 23 and Giddey at 23 a game. One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Philadelphia has been plus-6 a night and OKC minus-3 and the arc, Philadelphia at 44 percent from three to OKC's 38. Call it Philadelphia 116, OKC 113, OKC keeping it close.
4/04 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 97, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; Rozier at 22 and Adebayo at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Herro (19 straight), Richardson (22 straight), Mills (2 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Maxey at 24 and Oubre Jr. at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Maxey (2 straight), Melton (18 straight), Covington (44 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 97 a night to Philadelphia's 112. Call it Miami 114, Philadelphia 107.
4/06 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 24 and LaRavia at 14 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Aldama (2 straight), Williams (16 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 44 from three, 18 free throws a game; Maxey at 26 and Oubre Jr. at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Melton (19 straight). One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Philadelphia at 44 percent from three to Memphis's 34. Call it Philadelphia 112, Memphis 110, Memphis keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLEDG D. Garland
DM D. Mitchell
EM E. Mobley
GN G. Niang
IO I. Okoro
JA J. Allen
MM M. Morris Sr.
MS M. Strus
SM S. Merrill
TT T. Thompson
PHIBH B. Hield
CP C. Payne
KL K. Lowry
KO K. Oubre Jr.
MB M. Bamba
NB N. Batum
PR P. Reed
RC R. Council IV
TH T. Harris
TM T. Maxey
CLE/PHI the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Donovan Mitchell returns from injury, Mobley hits late 3-pointers as Cavaliers edge 76ers 117-114
CLEVELAND -- — Donovan Mitchell looked different wearing a protective mask. With the All-Star guard finally back, so did the Cavaliers.
Mitchell returned after missing six games with a broken nose and made two free throws with 12.8 seconds left as Cleveland edged the Philadelphia 76ers 117-114 on Friday night before hitting the road for five games.
Evan Mobley drained a go-ahead 3-pointer with 28.2 seconds left for the Cavs, who have struggled while waiting for Mitchell to get back and have been sliding in the Eastern Conference standings at the worst possible time.
This was a step in the right direction.
“We've been injured and hurt, but there’s no excuse at this point,” Mitchell said. “We’ve got to go out there and continue to find ways to win these games and be ready at the right time.”
Georges Niang scored 25 points against his former Philly teammates and Mobley had 18 of his 20 in the second half as the Cavs won for just the second time in six games.
Darius Garland added 14 points and 12 assists for Cleveland, currently holding the No. 3 seed in the East. With the NCAA women's Final Four in town next week, the Cavs will be on the road with games in Denver, Utah, Phoenix, San Antonio and two in Los Angeles.
“Every game’s a playoff game,” said Mitchell, who scored 12 points in his first game since March 16. “That’s what it’s going to be every night.”
The back-and-forth game featured 27 lead changes, seven in the fourth quarter.
Kyle Lowry had 23 points and Tobias Harris 21 for the Sixers, who are hanging onto a play-in spot as they wait for superstar Joel Embiid to get healthy.
After the Sixers took a 113-112 lead when Tyrese Maxey tipped the ball away from Garland and scored on a layup, Mobley, who didn't attempt a shot in the first half, hit a 3-pointer from the corner to put Cleveland up two.
The Cavs fouled Mo Bamba underneath, but with a chance to tie it, Philly's big man split his free throws. The Sixers put Mitchell on the line and his two free throws with 12.8 seconds made it 117-114.
Philadelphia had one last chance to tie it, but Maxey missed a step-back 3 with 2.1 seconds left and the Sixers couldn't corral the rebound.
Maxey finished just 7 of 26 from the floor, including 2 of 12 on 3s.
“All we needed was that Mobley 3 to not go in and we’d have had a real good chance,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said. "We put a decent effort in there, but I don’t think we played that great.”
The Cavs have been aimless without Mitchell, who missed 15 of 20 games since the break with a bruised left knee and the nasal fracture. He looked rusty, and admitted the mask isn't ideal.
“It’s trying to be able to breathe,” he said. “But it’s that time, so there’s really nothing I can do about it. So let’s go out there and figure it out. First time with a mask. I threw it out the first workout. We got a new one, so this is the final version.”
While Cleveland welcomed back Mitchell, the Sixers are getting closer to having Embiid, who has been out since undergoing surgery to repair meniscus in his knee on Feb. 6. He has missed 28 games.
Embiid recently began on-court work and is traveling with the team. Nurse said the 7-footer is “progressing forward” and reiterated the expectation is that he'll be back for the playoffs.
Nurse didn't divulge any specifics about what Embiid is able to do at the moment, but added "he is at the point where he needs a few players out there to work against.”
Embiid looks anxious to play. During a timeout in the third quarter, the reigning league MVP, who sat on the bench in street clothes, borrowed the game ball and dribbled while both teams huddled.
UP NEXT
76ers: At Denver on Sunday, the first of five straight road games.