Sixers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers at a glance
76ers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers a glance
TEAMS: Sixers (28-47) vs. Cavaliers (47-27)
WHEN: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Quicken Loans Arena
BROADCASTS: TV – CSN RADIO – 97.5 FM
SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE: TWITTER – @PompeyOnSixers, INSTAGRAM – PompeyOnSixers
411 ON CAVS: Cleveland has lost three straight games and five of their last seven matchups after suffering a 99-93 setback to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday. As a result, Cleveland is a half-game atop the Eastern Conference standings over Boston. They also have a 6-10 record in March. The team had a player-only meeting after the Bulls loss.
On the bright side, LeBron James scored 26 points to move into seventh place on the NBA's career scoring list at 28,599.
PROBABLE STARTERS
SIXERS (28-47)
23 Justin Anderson SF 6-6 6.5 ppg. 3.2 rpg.
9 Dario Saric PF 6-10 12.9 ppg. 6.4 rpg.
22 Richaun Holmes C 6-10 9.2 ppg. 5.1 rpg.
20 Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot SF 6-6 5.1 ppg. 2.0 rpg.
1 T.J. McConnell PG 6-2 6.7 ppg. 6.4 apg.
Coach: Brett Brown (fourth season, 75-246)
Injury report: Ben Simmons (right foot fracture, out), Jerryd Bayless (left wrist ligament tear, out), Joel Embiid (left knee meniscus tear, bone bruise, out), Robert Covington (right knee swelling, out), Jahlil Okafor (right knee soreness, out), Sergio Rodriguez (left hamstring strain, out).
CAVS (47-27)
23 LeBron James SF 6-7 26.0 ppg. 8.4 rpg. 8.8 apg.
0 Kevin Love PF 6-10 19.1 ppg. 10.9 rpg.
13 Tristan Thompson C 6-10 8.1 ppg. 9.3 rpg.
5 JR Smith SG 6-6 8.1 ppg. 2.5 apg.
2 Kyrie Irving PG 6-3 25.2 ppg. 5.7 apg.
Coach: Tyronn Lue (second season, 74-41)
Injury report: TBD
THE SERIES
Sixers own a 102-99 series advantage, but Cleveland was won the last eight meetings.
LAS VEGAS LINE
Cavaliers are 10 ½-point favorites.
LAST SERIES MEETING
It looked like the Cleveland Cavaliers were suffering from a severe case of an Ohio State-Michigan hangover.
The 76ers nearly took advantage of whatever ailed the Cavaliers in the early going on Nov. 27 before losing, 112-108, at the Wells Fargo Center.
Irving and James showed why they are among the world's best players on a day when Cleveland had a slow start.
Irving scored 19 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter. He scored 10 of the Cavs' first 13 points of the quarter.
James finished with 26 points, a game-high 13 assists, and 10 rebounds for his third triple-double of the season and the 45th of his career.
Love added 25 points and 11 rebounds, while Thompson had 12 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks.
Embiid led the Sixers with 22 points and added nine rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and three turnovers. His backup, Okafor, had 14 points and a season-high nine rebounds.
Cleveland looked a little sluggish after its team plane made a pit stop in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday to attend the football game at Ohio Stadium.
UPCOMING GAMES
Sunday: 6 p.m., at Air Canada Centre, Sixers at Toronto Raptors
Tuesday: 7 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Nets at Sixers
Thursday: 7 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Chicago at Sixers
April 8: 7 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Milwaukee Bucks at Sixers
April 10: 7 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Indiana Pacers at Sixers
Follow and contact 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers.