The Cleveland Cavaliers ended the Philadelphia 76ers’ five-game winning streak with a 119-95 rout in an Emirates NBA Cup game on Friday night, holding LeBron James to just eight points in his first game back in Cleveland as a 76er.
Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points with eight assists and seven rebounds, Evan Mobley added 22, and Mario Hezonja chipped in 15 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, according to the Associated Press and Sports Illustrated. Cleveland snapped a two-game skid and improved to 5-4.
Philadelphia, who had arrived at 8-1 with the league’s best record, fell to 8-2 and 1-1 in Cup group play.
LeBron’s quiet night in Cleveland
James, who signed with Philadelphia in the offseason instead of returning for a third stint with Cleveland, shot 3 of 12 from the field, including 0 of 4 from three-point range, and committed six turnovers in 31 minutes. It was only the 10th time in his 24-year career that he has scored in single figures in a regular-season game.
Joel Embiid fared no better, scoring six points on 0-of-9 shooting. Jaylen Brown led Philadelphia with 20 points, VJ Edgecombe had 19 and Tyrese Maxey added 17, but the 76ers never recovered after Cleveland opened up a 46-30 lead early in the second quarter.
The Cavaliers’ biggest lead was 25 points in the fourth quarter, and they out-rebounded Philadelphia by 14 despite centre Jarrett Allen sitting out with a bruised right knee.
Cleveland’s most complete game
Cleveland began the game with a 19-4 run and, after Philadelphia pulled within two points early in the third quarter, answered with a 12-0 burst across the end of the third and start of the fourth to put the game away. Mitchell’s three-pointer just before the third-quarter buzzer made it 91-74.
The Cavaliers’ bench scored 44 points, and the win was their first in East Group B, with Philadelphia dropping to 1-1 in the same group.
What comes next
Philadelphia visit the Chicago Bulls on Sunday before starting a three-game homestand. Cleveland stay at home to host the New York Knicks on Saturday night before beginning a three-game Eastern Conference road trip.
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Sources: Associated Press via theScore (Nov 7, 2026); Associated Press via KTIK (Nov 7, 2026); Sports Illustrated (Nov 7, 2026).
