A wild night at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse as the Cavs and 76ers battled for positioning in the Eastern Conference. Joel Embiid was his usual MVP-like self scoring 36 points and hauling in 18 rebounds. However late in the 4th quarter he was whistled for his 6th and final foul with a charge against Cavs big man Evan Mobley. Philadelphia head coach Doc Rivers immediately challenged the call, and replay officials would agree overturning the call allowing Embiid to finish the game.
James Harden added 28 points and Tyrese Maxey had 23 as Philly won by a final 118-109. For the Cavs Caris LeVert led the Cavs in scoring with 24 points off the bench after scoring 22 the previous night in Charlotte. Donovan Mitchell returned to score 21 points, and Darius Garland had 15.
With the loss the Cavs drop to 44-28 and the home record now stands at 28-8. Philadelphia improves to 46--22 and stay in third place in the East, four games ahead of the fourth place Cavs with just ten games remaining. It'll be an off day Thursday before they return to action Friday night against the Washington Wizards at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.