Cleveland @ Philadelphia preview
Wells Fargo Center
Last Meeting ( Feb 12, 2022 ) Cleveland 93, Philadelphia 103
The Philadelphia 76ers will look to remain undefeated with newly acquired James Harden in the lineup when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.
The Sixers improved to 3-0 with Harden in the lineup in a 123-108 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday. Harden had 26 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. Joel Embiid paced the Sixers with 27 points and 12 rebounds, and Tyrese Maxey added 25 points.
Philadelphia has won four in a row overall.
Harden has looked incredibly calm in his new surroundings.
"I'm very comfortable in a lot of situations," Harden said. "Whether it's basketball or just in life. I feel like you can put me anywhere in a room and I can fit in. So, here is no different. Just survey the room, see who's in it, see what you have. And try your best to fit in. Or, be the best, for me be the best James Harden I can be in every aspect."
Maxey also produced his third straight game with at least 20 points. Whether Maxey scores one point or 50 doesn't matter. He just wants to win.
"Everyone's mind is heading towards the right direction, everybody has the same goal in mind and we are all stepping at the same pace," Maxey said. "We all want to win and that's really it. We don't really care about stats. We don't care about how any of that is. At the end of the day, we just want to win and we are trying to play our best basketball moving forward."
The Cavaliers will hope to avoid their third consecutive loss when they visit Philadelphia.
Cleveland struggled in a 119-98 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.
All-Star Darius Garland was a bright spot, however, with 33 points. Jarrett Allen added 18 points and 11 rebounds, but head coach J.B. Bickerstaff was visibly frustrated throughout the game. Bickerstaff was whistled for two technical fouls early in the third quarter and was ejected for the first time as Cleveland's head coach.
Despite the recent issues, the Cavaliers remain focused on the long term.
"Every game, every patch of games, is a learning experience," Bickerstaff said. "Every test, every challenge that this group is going to be in is a new test and a new challenge. We still believe in each other, we believe that we're a good basketball team. But the hardest thing to do in this league is to replicate and sustain success. And that's where the good players, the good teams, go from good to great."
The Cavaliers are arguably the most improved team in the league. A couple of losses won't change that fact.
"If some of these losses bring us back to the mentality that we've had -- the toughness, the physicality, the scrap -- then it's worth it in the end," Bickerstaff said. "This is our process and we're still learning and figuring it out."
It's unclear whether Rajon Rondo or Caris LeVert will return to face the Sixers. Rondo (toe) has missed three straight games and LeVert (foot) has been out for four in a row.
--Field Level Media