Cavs steamroll the Sixers.
The Cleveland Cavaliers won their fourth straight game behind a dominant all-around performance from each member of the team.
Grades our based on our usual expectations for each player.
Donovan Mitchell
19 points (7-16 shooting), 5 assists, 4 rebounds
Mitchell got his scoring out of the way early, pouring in all 19 points in the first half. His burst of offense dug the Cavaliers out of an early 10-point deficit and gave them momentum the rest of the way.
DONOVAN MITCHELL PUT ANDRE DRUMMOND ON HIS ASS pic.twitter.com/rkX8hAoYlG
— Dylan (@dillybar2145__) December 22, 2024
We’ve seen effortless scoring nights like this from Mitchell before, but it never gets old. This crossover on Andre Drummond was a highlight of the night.
22 points (10-14 shooting), 13 rebounds, 7 assists
This was one of the better all-around performances of Mobley’s career — in a season where that feels like almost a nightly saying.
Mobley was on triple-double watch after going scoreless in the opening quarter. He looked more comfortable in his handle than ever before, crossing his way to the rim for a monster dunk over Drummond in the third quarter.
Mobley’s growh on offense has been a theme of the season. But his defensive impact remains stellar. He put a lid on the rim as Cleveland held the 76ers to below 100 points on the night. Mobley’s 13 rebounds helped seal the deal.
26 points (9-11 shooting), 5 rebounds, 4 assists
It was clear from the tip that Garland had it going tonight. He was in rhtyhym, skipping around the floor while burying jumper after jumper. This was a confident showing from Garland as he led all scorers with 26 points on hyper-efficient shooting.
His lead passes didn’t result in as many assists as you’d expect — but don’t be mistaken, Darius was moving the ball with authority tonight.
6 points (2-5 shooting), 6 rebounds, 2 assists
We’ve seen games like this from Allen throughout the season. When everyone is clicking, Allen can sometimes feel left out. But Allen’s rim protection and switchability on the perimter kept Cleveland’s defense in front. And his playmaking unlocked an easy scoring opportunity for Mobley just when the Cavaliers were beginning to charge full steam ahead.
6 points (2-3 shooting), 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
This was a great weekend for Wade. After pouring on 15 points against Milwaukee, Wade drilled two more three-pointers over Philly — putting together a two-way masterclass in this back-to-back.
12 points (5-11 shooting), 3 assists, 2 steals
The Cavaliers have relied upon LeVert to give them connective playmaking and scoring off the bench. He did that tonight while also making an impact defensively. His live-action steals led to easy transition buckets while his playmaking put Philly in rotation. LeVert is shooting an absurd 47% from three this season.
13 points (5-9 shooting), 5 rebounds, 2 assists
You know Niang can make an impact with his three-point shooting. But his cuts to the rim tonight were great. Niang moved without the ball and made himself a glass-cleaner as the Cavaliers rolled to an easy victory.
11 points (4-11 shooting), 4 assists, 4 rebounds
Jerome has begun flashing some of that magic he showed to start the season. It wasn’t perfrct tonight — he airballed a shot late in the game. But overall, Jerome was a burst of energy who’s limitless range makes him a constant threat to the defense.
