Philadelphia 76ers vs Cleveland Cavaliers Box Score on Dec 09, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Dec 9, 2017

CLEVELAND -- LeBron James scored or assisted on the Cavaliers' final 22 points en route to another triple double in Cleveland's 105-98 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.

James finished with 30 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists in 39 minutes for his 58th career triple-double during the regular season and third this year.

Jeff Green, Kyle Korver, and Dwyane Wade all scored 13 points off Cleveland's bench. Jae Crowder scored 12 points, including a dagger 3-pointer from James with 40.9 seconds left for a 104-98 lead.

The Sixers were led by 19 points apiece from J.J. Redick and Robert Covington, who was injured trying to save the ball out of bounds with about 1:08 left and did not return.

The Cavs were missing Kevin Love (hip soreness) and the Sixers held Joel Embiid out with a game Sunday coming against New Orleans.

J.R. Smith moved ahead of Kobe Bryant (1,827 3-pointers) for 12th place on the NBA's all-time 3-point list with two 3s for the Cavs.

Dario Saric, who was questionable with eye and facial injuries, added 17 points for the Sixers.

Trevor Booker, acquired Thursday from Brooklyn in a trade for Jahlil Okafor, made his Sixers debut off the bench and finished with 12 points.

The Sixers led 13-3 and 18-7 in the first quarter, but the Cavs ripped off a 13-2 run of their own and trailed just 24-23 when it was over. Ante Zizic, starting for Love, was out of the game for good after about five minutes.

Cleveland led by as many as 12 in the second quarter and was ahead 52-46 at halftime. The Cavs' bench was the difference, at one point outscoring the Sixers' reserves 27-6. Wade had seven points and four assists in the first half.

James scored 12 in the third quarter, but the Cavs' seven turnovers kept them from pulling away. Cleveland led 78-73 heading into the fourth, and Covington's 3-ball with 11:18 to go tied it at 78. Redick's 3 with 10:10 remaining put the Sixers ahead 84-81 with 10:10 remaining.

The Sixers led 96-91 with 4:43 to go and scored just two more points. James started the Cavs' run with a drive and foul shot with 4:22 left.

NOTES: Cavs C Kevin Love told Cleveland.com after Friday's loss to Indiana that his left hip was sore from guarding Memphis C Zach Randolph on Wednesday. Love, who scored 20 points Friday, warmed up Saturday but team medical personnel decided to hold him back. Rookie C Ante Zizic made his first NBA start. Love is averaging 24.2 points over his last six games ... Philadelphia coach Brett Brown said C Joel Embiid was kept out against the Cavs instead of Sunday's game against New Orleans because of the chance to rest him consecutive days. The Sixers last played Thursday. ... Sixers G Markelle Fultz, the No. 1 overall pick in 2017, is no longer experiencing shoulder pain and will ramp up on-court activities, the team said in a news release. Sixers' doctors will "gauge his readiness in three weeks," according to the release. Fultz averaged 6.0 points in four games before he was shut down with soreness and a scapular muscle imbalance in his shoulder. ... The Sixers also said G/F Justin Anderson would be re-evaluated in two weeks as he recovers from shin splints. Anderson has been out since Nov. 18. ... The Cavs will practice Monday, a news item because they haven't done that since Nov. 26.