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[Cleveland Cavaliers]

21 stats to explain Cavs come-from-behind win over 76ers

The Cleveland Cavaliers erased an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 117-115 in the final seconds. An Evan Mobley dunk off a beautiful feed from Jaylon Tyson helped secure the victory.

The stats in the table below are from Cleaning the Glass.

Effective Field Goal Percentage	Offensive Rebounding Percentage	Offensive Turnover Percentage	Free Throw Rate
Cavs	62.5%, 88th percentile	31.7%, 65th percentile	18.6%, 18th percentile	14.3, 16th percentile
76ers	53.8%, 47th percentile	27.1%, 41st percentile	11.2%, 81st percentile	18.7, 38th percentile

Now, let’s dive into the numbers.

• Jaylon Tyson’s career-high 39 points led Cleveland to the win. Tyson couldn’t miss as he went 13-17 from the field. He was the only Cavalier to score over 20 points.
• Tyson connected on 7-9 from threes. He is now hitting 45.8% of his threes on 4.1 attempts per game. This is up from shooting 34.5% from distance last season.
• Tyson finished the game with a 97.1 effective field goal percentage and a 99.3 true shooting percentage. That seems pretty good, yeah?
• All 13 of Tyson’s field-goal makes were assisted. Tyson’s ability to play within the offense has stood out this season. He’s done an excellent job of moving off the ball and attacking whenever he gets an opening to do so. Tyson did that brilliantly on Friday. Everything was within the flow of the offense, he wasn’t forcing anything, and he continually made the right offensive play, as evidenced by his game-winning assist to Mobley.

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• Donovan Mitchell’s 13 points are his second-fewest in a game this season. He struggled to get into a scoring rhythm with the Sixers’ doubling him every chance they could. Mitchell finished the game shooting 4-13 from the field. This included going 0-4 on looks in the paint and not attempting a shot in the restricted area.
• The Cavs are now 2-7 when Mitchell scores 21 or fewer points. The Cavaliers have typically gone as Mitchell has from a scoring perspective. That’s why they’re 9-1 when he scores 35 or more. This game was a rare exception.
• Mitchell chipped in a season-high 12 assists. However, this was accompanied by six turnovers, which is the second most he’s had this season.
• Five of Donovan Mitchell’s 12 assists went to Tyson. The Sixers were blitzing Mitchell whenever they could, especially when they brought a screen his way. Mitchell used this to his advantage by getting Tyson involved. Tyson was able to make them pay as a scorer in the short roll and as a shooter out of these actions.

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• The Cavs assisted on 38 of their 44 field goal makes. The ball has been moving around incredibly well the last couple of games. This performance was on the heels of 41 of the team’s 50 makes being assisted in Wednesday’s win.
• Cleveland turned it over 18 times. This was eight more giveaways than the Sixers. This led to the Sixers winning the points off turnovers battle 32-15.
• The Cavs had three players with four or more turnovers: Mitchell (6), Evan Mobley (4), and Jaylon Tyson (4).
• The Cavs are now 6-1 when they turn it over 18 or more times. This stat is a good reminder that correlation does not always equal causation.
• Joel Embiid scored 16 of his 33 points off long midrange jumpers. Jarrett Allen did a great job of keeping Embiid out of the paint on Wednesday. Instead of trying to get back there, Embiid took the midrange shots that Allen was giving him, going 8-15 on long twos. Allen could’ve been stronger with contesting those jumpers, but you’d rather limit him to taking a shot he makes 47% of the time instead of one he makes 64% of the time.
• The Cavs went 17-34 (50%) from three. This was the second time they’ve shot 50% or better from three in a game. They’re now 7-2 when they connect on more than 42% of their triples.
• Cleveland’s 34 three-point attempts were their fifth-fewest in a game this season. They’re also 7-2 when they take 35 or fewer threes.
• The Cavs held the Sixers to just 61.5% shooting at the rim (30th percentile). This wasn’t a great defensive game from Cleveland, but being able to defend the rim this well is a good sign that their defense was probably a little better than it seemed. The number of easy baskets off turnovers made it difficult to judge the Cavs on that end.
• Mobley had four blocks for the second straight game. The Cavs are 5-2 when he records four or more rejections in a game.
• Craig Porter Jr. tied a career high with 11 assists. He performed well filling in for Darius Garland in the starting lineup, who missed the game with a toe injury on his other foot. Porter turned it over only once and wasn’t part of the team’s problems with holding onto the ball.
• De’Andre Hunter and Porter led the team in plus/minus (+12). The Cavs played some of their best basketball with Hunter on the court. He provided 16 points and four assists on 7-13 shooting. This was Hunter’s second strong outing in a row.
• Six Cavaliers had double-digit points: Tyson (39), Hunter (16), Mobley (15), Mitchell (13), Tyrese Proctor (13), and Allen (10).
• The Cavs closed the game on a 13-4 run. They played their best basketball in the clutch, which allowed them to rally back from a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit. With the win, the Cavs are 9-14 in clutch situations (games that are within five points in the final five minutes).

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...on-tyson-donovan-mitchell-cleveland-cavaliers

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Winners and Losers: Cavs at 76ers – Jaylon Tyson has no fear and no ceiling

The Cleveland Cavaliers won a thrilling game against the Philadelphia 76ers. They couldn’t have done it without Jaylon Tyson.

Let’s see who won and lost the night.

WINNER – Jaylon Tyson​

I gave Tyson a rare A+++ in my player grades. If that tells you anything about the game he just played.

It was the type of game that’s almost hard to talk about. He was perfect, in every single way. What else is there to say?

Tyson had a career-high 39 points. It only took him 17 shots to get there, as he missed just 4 attempts all night. He was a flamethrower from behind the arch (7-9 three-point shooting) and just as impressive attacking the basket.

He capped it off with an aggressive drive and dump-off pass to Evan Mobley for the game-winning bucket.

Tonight was Jaylon Tyson's SIXTH game of 19+ points on above 70% FG this season

— Tony Pesta (@Tony_Pesta) January 17, 2026

Tyson has shown no fear this season. And, he’s starting to show that his ceiling might be higher than anyone could have predicted. This was already the sixth time this season that Tyson has scored 19+ points on 70% or better shooting from the floor. That type of efficiency from a second-year player who is also a plus defender is almost unheard of.

LOSER – Ball Security​

You can rarely blame an entire loss on one single factor. But hey, if the Cavs had lost tonight, they would have only had one thing to blame.

Turnovers were a serious problem in this game. That’s to be expected when Darius Garland isn’t there to run the offense. Still, 12 turnovers at halftime had the Cavs trailing a game they should have been winning. The 76ers finished with 32 points off Cleveland’s turnovers, a stat that should have been a backbreaker.

It takes some serious grit and determination to win a game when you’re spotting the other team that many points. Granted, Philly deserves credit for the swarming defense that they played. But also, the Cavs had plenty of unforced errors in this one, as well.

Winning can cure everything. Though I don’t think the Cavs should expect to get away with this many turnovers again.

LOSER – Evan Mobley’s Usage​

This might sound harsh, because I loved the 17 points that Mobley scored on Wednesday, but now I’m complaining about his 15 points tonight. The thing is, Mobley should have gotten more opportunities with Cleveland’s injuries, not fewer.

I understand that Philly loaded up against Mobley. They know as well as we do that the Cavs needed him to score tonight with DG and Sam Merrill on the sidelines. Mobley has done a great job of reading the defense and making the correct pass this season.

Still, it should be easy to replicate the actions that Mobley excels at running. Those side pick-and-rolls that lead into jump hooks should be available at any given time. Yet, for some reason, the Cavs consistently struggle to keep Mobley involved offensively.

Putting more on Mobley’s plate shouldn’t be complicated. He doesn’t have to be a Giannis-prototype or an elite floor spacer. Can he just get a few extra possessions scoring in the short-roll? That’s all I want.

I’m glad he got the rock with the game on the line. Even if it was a simple drive and dump-off pass. That’s the type of action that Mobley can dominate. You just have to get to the basket and find him, because you can trust that he’s always lurking.

WINNER – Nae’Qwan Tomlin Dunks​

Tomlin dunks every ball like he’s trying to rip the rim straight off the backboard. Had he played 40 years ago, he’d likely be responsible for several game stoppages and hoop repairs.

We love the intensity that Tomlin brings to the game. His ferocious dunks are instant highlights. And, because he goes so hard in the paint, defenders are learning to get out of his way. Joel Embiid side-stepped an opportunity to contest Tomlin on one of his violent attacks in the second half.

There isn’t much else to say about this. I just had to give him a nod.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...76ers-jaylon-tyson-has-no-fear-and-no-ceiling

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Player Grades: Cavs at 76ers – Evan Mobley wins it with go-ahead dunk

The Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off a stunner in Philly. This one was equally stressful and rewarding.

All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Donovan Mitchell​

13 points, 12 assists, 9 rebounds, 6 turnovers

Mitchell was quiet for most of this game. He only attempted five shots in the first half as Philly focused most of their defensive attention on him. Mitchell did a great job of countering this by being a playmaker rather than pressing the issue. He eventually found a small rhythym in the second half, giving the Cavs just enough to pull off a win.

I would have given Mitchell an extra letter grade had he taken better care of the ball. Six turnovers are a bit much.

Grade: B

Jaylon Tyson​

39 points, 4 assists, 5 rebounds

Tyson was phenomenal tonight. A career-high in points on absurd efficiency (13-17 shooting). This is the type of performance that Tyson has replicated multiple times this season, to lesser degrees. The more he proves he can score at this rate, the more valuable Tyson becomes as a prospect. This might be a future All-Star caliber player.

EVAN MOBLEY GAME WINNER.

pic.twitter.com/nUiJpKdMjO

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 17, 2026

If his red-hot shooting wasn’t enough, Tyson also dished the game-winning assist. A cool, calm, and collected approach from a player who has shown no fear through his sophomore season.

Grade: A+++

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Evan Mobley​

15 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks, 1 steal

I wish we could have seen more from Mobley, considering the injuries to Darius Garland and Sam Merrill. But Philly did a good job of keeping Mobley away from the paint. That is, until the very final possession, where Mobley caught a pass and dunked it home for the win.

Grade: B–

Tyrese Proctor​

13 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 11 minutes

Proctor took advantage of his opportunity today. He was an efficient 5-8 from the floor and arguably should be playing ahead of Lonzo Ball, at this point.

Grade: A+

Craig Porter Jr. ​

2 points, 11 assists, 3 rebounds

Porter might not be a threat to shoot the ball, but he keeps finding ways to be effective anyway. He matched his career-high with 11 assists and grabbed 2 offensive rebounds.

Grade: B+

De’Andre Hunter​

16 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block

Hunter is starting to trend in the right direction. He’s been more efficient recently (7-13 tonight) and threw down a monster dunk in the fourth quarter. It took him a minute, but this is what we expected to see from Hunter this season.

Grade: A-

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Jarrett Allen​

10 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Allen was fairly timid tonight. At least, compared to how he played in his previous matchup with Philly. He still did a fine job of keeping Embiid away from the glass, but he could have been more assertive on offense.

Grade: B

Nae’Qwan Tomlin​

9 points, 5 rebounds

Tomlin is an energizer. You know this by now. He threw down a couple of thunderous dunks tonight and gave Cleveland a surge of momentum when they needed it most.

Grade: A–

Lonzo Ball​

0 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

I don’t know, man.

It’s hard to see Ball turning his season around at this point. He just doesn’t seem to have any juice as a shot creator anymore. I don’t think he’s played well enough to stay ahead of any other guard on the roster right now.

Grade: D-

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...-76ers-evan-mobley-wins-it-with-go-ahead-dunk

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs vs. Thunder: How to watch, odds, and injury report

The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder have been by far the most impressive team this season. Their +14 net rating is over five points better than their closest competitor. It’s why they started the season on a 70-win pace.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, on the other hand, have been one of the most disappointing teams this season. They’ve taken a noticeable step back from where they were last year, as they’ve already surpassed their loss total for all of last season.

Despite how differently things have gone for both the Cavs and Thunder, they enter this game playing at a pretty similar level.

Oklahoma City has cooled off dramatically in recent weeks. They’ve lost three of their last eight and dropped their previous outing to the Miami Heat. Their offense has struggled recently, as they have the 14th-ranked offense over the past two weeks.

The Cavs are heating up. They’ve won three out of four with impressive wins over the Minnesota Timberwolves and two straight good showings against the Philadelphia 76ers. Cleveland’s offense is also coming into form as they’ve posted the fourth-best offensive rating over the last two weeks (120.4). Things are starting to look up.

This game should provide a good measuring stick for where the Cavs are right now, even though both will be without key starters. The Thunder will be without Jalen Williams, and the Cavs will be without Darius Garland.

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Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (24-19) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (35-8)

Where: Rocket Arena – Cleveland, OH

When: Monday, Jan. 19 at 2:30 PM

TV: NBC, Peacock

Point spread: Thunder -6.5

Cavs injury report: Darius Garland – OUT (toe), Sam Merrill – OUT (hand), Dean Wade – PROBABLE (knee), Max Strus – OUT (foot), Chris Livingston – OUT (G League), Luke Travers – OUT (G League)

Thunder injury report: Jalen Williams – OUT (hamstring), Isaiah Hartenstein – OUT (right soleus), Thomas Sorber – OUT (ACL), Nikola Topic – OUT (surgical recovery), Brooks Barnhizer – DOUBTFUL (G League)

Cavs expected starting lineup: Craig Porter Jr., Donovan Mitchell, Jaylon Tyson, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Thunder expected starting lineup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, Lu Dort, Jaylin Williams, Chet Holmgren

Previous matchup: The Thunder defeated the Cavs by 20 a year ago.

Here’s a look at both teams’ impact stats via Cleaning the Glass.

Offensive Rating	Defensive Rating	Net Rating
Cavs	117.8 (8th)	115 (14th)	+2.8 (11th)
Thunder	120 (5th)	106 (1st)	+14 (1st)

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Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-i...s-thunder-how-to-watch-odds-and-injury-report