Sixers get a reality check in a 119-95 beatdown by the Cavs

Joel Embiid went 0-for-9. LeBron James shot 3-for-12 with six turnovers and the Sixers got blown out 119-95 by the Cavs on Friday night. That’s the whole story. The Sixers’ two biggest names combined for 14 points, and the team fell to 8-2 while Cleveland improved to 5-4.

Jaylen Brown led the Sixers with 20 points, VJ Edgecombe had 19 and Tyrese Maxey added 17. Donovan Mitchell scored 23 for the Cavs, and Evan Mobley added 22.

Embiid’s worst night in years, Lebron not much better

LeBron and Embiid combine for just 14 points in the 119-95 loss vs. Cleveland 😬 pic.twitter.com/Zt1g0RmQiI

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) November 7, 2026

Embiid finished with six points, all from the line, and seven rebounds in 25 minutes. He sat the entire fourth quarter. It’s only the second time in his career he’s gone a full game without a field goal, and the first since November 2019.

It’s not just one bad night, either. He’s 3-for-28 from three this season. He’s playing through plantar fasciitis in his right foot, so there’s some context, but a stretch big who can’t hit from outside is a problem this offense hasn’t solved.

LeBron had eight points, eight rebounds, three assists and six turnovers. The Sixers started 0-for-4 from three, Cleveland answered an early Edgecombe dunk with a 15-0 run, and the hole was dug before the first quarter was over.

As a team, the Sixers shot 36.5% from the field and 25% from three.

Edgecombe and Walker were the bright spots

Edgecombe picked up two fouls in the first quarter and didn’t care. He came back in the second and dropped 15 points with three threes and three steals.

VJMAXX. pic.twitter.com/Nd3dsN9Tcd

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) November 7, 2026

Jabari Walker, filling in at backup center with Adem Bona out (cervical spine sprain), brought physicality on the glass and held his own when he got switched onto James Harden. He’s earned more minutes than Bona has.

The Sixers got within 66-63 in the third on a Maxey steal and a dunk by Edgecombe, and Brown kept hitting shots, reaching 20 points for a third straight game. Then Cleveland pulled away late in the third, and it was over.

Sixers back at it against Chicago on Sunday

Losses like this were going to happen but Cleveland was missing Jarrett Allen and lost Sam Merrill at halftime, and still won by 24. When Embiid and LeBron both disappear on the same night, this team doesn’t have enough to cover for it.

The Sixers are 1-1 in NBA Cup group play, with Miami up next on November 25. First, they finish their road trip Sunday afternoon in Chicago.

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