76ers Go for 13 Straight Against LeBron and the Cavaliers
- The Sixers will try to extend their 12-game winning when they host the Cavs on Friday night
- Can the Cavs continue their red-hot play?
- Will LeBron James and Ben Simmons both post triple-doubles in their latest duel?
You’d be hard pressed to find two hotter teams than the Cavaliers (48-30, 20-19 away) and the 76ers (48-30, 27-11 home). Cleveland has won nine of its last ten games and Philly has won 12 straight, topping 120 points four times during that stretch.
A win on Friday night would allow the Cavs to strengthen their tenuous hold on the third seed in the East and send a message to the Sixers should they meet in the playoffs.
For Philadelphia fans, it’s also a chance to woo LeBron James. The 14-time All-Star is a free agent this summer and Philly is believed to be on his list of preferred destinations. Keep an eye on the stands to see how many fans are sporting LeBron’s familiar #23.
Ryan Murphy 2017-18 Season Stats
- ATS record: 62-37 (62.6-percent)
- SU record: 365-145 (71.5-percent)
- O/U record: 45-37 (54.8-percent)
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Philadelphia 76ers Team Stats
OFFENSE
| 110.4 | Offense Rating | 107.0 |
| 110.5 | Points | 109.0 |
| 42.2 | Rebounds | 47.2 |
| 23.4 | Assists | 26.8 |
| 47.6 | Field-Goal Percentage | 47.0 |
| 36.9 | Three-Point Percentage | 36.7 |
| 99.9 | Pace | 101.9 |
| 0.9 | Plus/Minus | -3.9 |
DEFENSE
| 109.3 | Defense Rating | 102.0 |
| 109.6 | Points | 105.1 |
| 43.8 | Rebounds | 42.2 |
| 7.4 | Steals | 8.5 |
| 4.0 | Blocks | 5.1 |
| 47.2 | Field-Goal Percentage | 43.3 |
| 36.7 | Three-Point Percentage | 34.1 |
| 46.7 | Points In Point | 41.3 |
Head-to-Head Results
| Date | Location | Score | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 27 | Philadelphia | 113-91 | Cleveland |
| Dec. 9 | Cleveland | 105-98 | Cleveland |
| Mar. 1 | Cleveland | 108-97 | Philadelphia |
The Cavs have won two of their three games against the 76ers this season, and came close to winning the third after erasing a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter of their game on March 1st. That particular match was a frenzied, see-saw affair in which Lebron recorded 30 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists and came close to orchestrating a huge comeback.
Notable Injuries and Absences
| Cavs | 76ers |
|---|---|
| George Hill (sprained ankle) | Joel Embiid (orbital fracture) |
| Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (knee) |
Straight Up Advice: Cavs (113-105)
The Sixers may be the hotter team, but they’ll struggle to defeat the Cavs without Joel Embiid. The Cameroonian center is leading the team in scoring, rebounds, and blocks, and Philly’s offensive rating is 8.9 points per 100 possessions worse when he takes a breather.
Embiid was the biggest difference maker in the team’s lone win over the Cleveland this season, and they’ll sorely miss his playmaking and defensive presence on Friday night.
Embiid was the biggest difference maker in the team’s lone win over Cleveland this season, and they’ll sorely miss his playmaking and defensive presence on Friday night. Take LeBron and the Cavs all the way.
Team Trends
| Cavs | 76ers |
|---|---|
| Cleveland is 20-19 SU on the road | Philadelphia is 27-11 SU at home |
| Cleveland is 9-1 SU in its last ten games | Philadelphia is 10-0 SU in its last ten games |
| Cleveland is 37-24 SU as a favorite | Philadelphia is 10-17 SU as an underdog |
| Cleveland is 33-15 SU in conference games | Philadelphia is 31-18 in conference games |
| Cleveland is 29-48-1 ATS this season (37.7-percent) | Philadelphia is 47-29-2 ATS this season (61.8-percent) |
| Cleveland is 16-23 ATS on the road | Philadelphia is 26-11 ATS at home |
Additional SU Picks (April 6)
Cavs vs 76ers is just one of ten games on tap on Friday night. Here are our other nine straight up picks.
| Match Up | SU Pick |
|---|---|
| Mavs vs Pistons | Pistons |
| Hornets vs Magic | Hornets |
| Hawks vs Wizards | Wizards |
| Bulls vs Celtics | Celtics |
| Heat vs Knicks | Heat |
| Pacers vs Raptors | Raptors |
| Kings vs Grizzlies | Grizzlies |
| Pelicans vs Suns | Pelicans |
| Timberwolves vs Lakers | Timberwolves |
Ryan worked as an Editor and resident Lead NBA and MLB Writer for SB from 2017-19. He has authored his own weekly columns for Fox Sports and AskMen, and has created successful campaigns for the WWE, the NHL, and the NFL. Ryan's critically acclaimed stories have been published in 20 books.
