Philadelphia 76ers vs Cleveland Cavaliers Box Score on Dec 27, 2020

Andre Drummond scored 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as the host Cleveland Cavaliers breezed past the Philadelphia 76ers 118-94 on Sunday.

Collin Sexton added 22 points, Darius Garland and Cedi Osman contributed 14 apiece, and Larry Nance Jr. had 13 for the Cavaliers, who improved to 3-0.

The last time the Cavaliers started with three straight victories to open a season came to start of the 2016-17 season, when they advanced to the NBA Finals.

Cleveland won handily Sunday despite losing five-time All-Star Kevin Love to a strained right calf late in the first half. Love scored four points in a brief appearance and did not return.

Tobias Harris led the Sixers with 16 points, while Ben Simmons added 15 and Mike Scott 12.

The Sixers, who won their first two games under head coach Doc Rivers, looked lethargic at times without Joel Embiid. Before the game, Embiid was scratched with back tightness. He posted 56 points and 24 rebounds combined in wins over the Washington Wizards and New York Knicks.

The Sixers went 11-10 without Embiid last season.

The Cavaliers were dominant early while building a 57-38 lead with 4:10 remaining in the first half. Philadelphia committed 11 turnovers in the first half and trailed 64-50 heading into the locker room.

Drummond reached a double-double by halftime with 15 points and 10 rebounds. The Sixers struggled from 3-point range, missing 13 of 18 long-distance shots in the first half.

Dante Exum converted a steal into a dunk and a 76-53 Cleveland advantage with 8:45 left in the third quarter. Seth Curry and Harris made consecutive 3-pointers to close the Sixers to 76-59. But the Cavaliers pushed ahead 85-59 with 5:05 remaining in the third quarter after a runner in the lane by Garland.

Cleveland led 93-72 at the end of the third.

Garland scored two baskets and Drummond added one to open the fourth for a commanding 99-72 advantage.

Rivers emptied his bench midway through the fourth with the game out of reach, and the Cavaliers cruised to the win.

--Field Level Media