The Cleveland Cavaliers are having their best start in franchise history, and they are currently off to the best start of any NBA team in almost ten years.
The 12-0 Cavaliers might get a little help on Wednesday night when they face the struggling Philadelphia 76ers.
Cleveland had a day off on Tuesday while the 76ers lost to the New York Knicks 111-99. Plus, Philadelphia will be missing some key players on Wednesday.
How many players will be out is still uncertain. Tyrese Maxey (hamstring injury) will definitely be out, and Joel Embiid (knee) and Paul George (knee) may also miss the game.
Embiid played his first game of the season on Tuesday in the loss to the Knicks, but he struggled, shooting just 2 of 11 for 13 points and grabbing only three rebounds in 26 minutes. George has been playing the last five games after missing the first five but may not play Wednesday.
If either Embiid or George is out, it would be a tough challenge for the 76ers against the red-hot Cavaliers.
“We’re doing it in various ways,” said Cavaliers star guard Donovan Mitchell, who leads the team with an average of 23.7 points per game. “We’re doing it in a way where we are blowing out teams. We’re winning from behind. We’re winning close games. And it’s somebody different every night.”
Mitchell was the standout player for Cleveland in their 119-113 win over the Chicago Bulls on Monday. He scored 36 points, hitting 7 of 16 from 3-point range, and had five teammates scoring in double figures.
The Cavaliers are only the eighth team in NBA history to start a season 12-0 or better. The last team to go undefeated in their first 12 games was the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, who started 24-0 and finished with a record-setting 73 wins.
“Great stat. I didn’t know that,” said Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson about his team’s hot start. “We’re going to celebrate that. Being in the league 17 years, you have good starts and you have bad starts. But to have a great start like this is unique and something to celebrate.”
The 76ers, on the other hand, have struggled this season. They are 2-8, and while Embiid made his season debut on Tuesday, his performance was less than impressive.
“A little rusty. A little bit of conditioning (concerns) showed up fairly early,” said 76ers coach Nick Nurse, acknowledging that these issues were expected.
Nurse did not confirm whether Embiid or George would play Wednesday, but Embiid said he wants to play. “I feel good right now, but I’ll see. It’s up to them,” Embiid said.
His teammates would certainly be happy to see him back on the court. Rookie guard Jared McCain had a solid game playing alongside Embiid, scoring 23 points in his second consecutive game with at least 20 points.
“It’s pretty easy playing with him,” McCain said, and George added, “You just see how much (Embiid) demands eyes and attention on him” after they played their first game together.
No matter which 76ers stars are available, Mitchell and the Cavaliers are prepared. “We’re going to get teams’ best shots,” Mitchell said. “We’re going to get tested early. I have no doubt we will.”
