76ers roll in Cleveland despite 30 from LeBron

[March 02, 2018]  Dario Saric hit two key hoops in the final 5:09 to squash Cleveland rallies Thursday night, helping the Philadelphia 76ers hold on for a 108-97 victory over the Cavaliers in a nationally televised game in Cleveland.

The win was Philadelphia's first in three tries against Cleveland this season, and allowed the 76ers (33-27) to move within 2 1/2 games of the Cavaliers (36-25) in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The loss cut into the Cavaliers' lead in the Central Division. They now lead Indiana (34-27) by just two games.

The 76ers led 82-71 after an interior hoop by newcomer Ersan Ilyasova with 9:07 to play before LeBron James had two hoops and teammates Kyle Korver and Rodney Hood each buried a 3-pointer in a 14-3 burst that produced an 85-all tie.

But Saric rescued the 76ers for the first time, dropping in a layup that pushed Philadelphia back on top.

A 3-pointer by Korver with 2:25 to go got the Cavaliers back within one, before Saric again came through at a critical time, burying a 3-pointer of his own to push the 76ers' advantage back to four at 98-94 with 2:09 to go.

The 76ers held on from there to produce their first win after losses to Washington and Miami to open a three-game trip.

J.J. Redick had 22 points to lead the 76ers, who never trailed in the second half.

Joel Embiid (17 points, game-high 14 rebounds) and Robert Covington (10 points, 10 rebounds) recorded double-doubles for the 76ers, while Ben Simmons flirted with a triple-double with 18 points, nine rebounds and a team-high eight assists.

 

Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) talks with referee Eli Roe (44) during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Saric finished with 16 points.

James poured in a game-high 30 points for the Cavaliers, who have alternated wins and losses in their last six games.

James also found time for nine rebounds and a team-high eight assists.

Larry Nance Jr. had 13 points, Hood 11 and Jordan Clarkson 10 for the Cavaliers, who lost for the second time in three outings on their five-game homestand.

Tristan Thompson collected a team-high 11 rebounds for Cleveland.

The 76ers held the upper hand through most of the first half, building an eight-point lead in the first quarter and a 10-point lead in the second en route to a 59-56 halftime advantage.

--Field Level Media

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