Deep-Sixed: Cavaliers fight to the end but see nine-game winning streak snapped by 76ers

CLEVELAND — It was great while it lasted. The scorching-hot Cavaliers were due for a letdown and it came Monday, as the hustling Philadelphia 76ers snapped Cleveland's nine-game winning streak with a 123-121 win at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The Cavs had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but point guard Darius Garland's 3-point attempt from the corner was off the mark. "I thought it was cash," Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell said. "We'll take that (shot) 10 times out of 10." Garland said he was surprised that he was that wide open on the potential game-winner. "I'm going home happy with that shot," he said. Garland finished with 21 points and nine assists for the Cavs (35-17), who entered Monday having won 17 of their last 18 games. The Sixers (32-21) were playing without reigning MVP Joel Embiid, who had surgery on his left knee Feb. 6 and is expected to miss about four weeks. The 7-foot, 260-pound center is averaging an NBA-best 35.3 points and 11.3 rebounds. Even without their best player, the Sixers came out on fire and kept the Cavs on their heels for most of the game. Guard Buddy Hield, acquired from Indiana at the trade deadline, scorched the Cavs with 24 points before fouling out with 53 seconds left. He buried five of eight 3-pointers. Swingman Kelly Oubre Jr. also had 24 points for the Sixers, while All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey added 22. Cleveland, which hadn't lost since Jan. 24 in Milwaukee, trailed by 10 points with 1:25 to play but refused to quit. On the last possession with 6.9 seconds left, Mitchell drove into the key and had his shot blocked by Oubre. Mitchell grabbed the rebound and found Garland in the corner. "It's a two-point game," Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "Donovan had an opportunity, drove to the basket and that's what you're looking for. We got an offensive rebound and we had a guy wide open in the corner. (Mitchell) made the play to one of our best shooters and, again, it just came up a little short." And so did the Cavs. Mitchell finished with a game-high 36 points to go along with four rebounds, six assists and three steals. Talk has intensified about whether he's an MVP candidate. "I feel I deserve to be in that conversation," Mitchell said. Bickerstaff said before the game he thinks it's "foolish" that Mitchell isn't considered a legitimate contender. "I think it's laughable," he said. "He's having the best year of his career. He should have been first-team All-NBA last year (over OKC's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander)." Center Jarrett Allen recorded his 25th double-double on the season with 21 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, and power forward Evan Mobley also had a double-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. "We're just trying to do our job," Mobley said. "Double-doubles are expected from both of us." The long winning streak is over, but it showed "we're a very good team and should be taken seriously," Mobley said. Mitchell honored The NBA announced Mitchell has been named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for Week 16 (games played Feb. 5-11). This marks his first player of the week honor this season and sixth of his career. The five-time All-Star led the Cavs to an Eastern Conference-best 4-0 record while averaging 27.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks. Mavericks guard Luka Dončić won Player of the Week accolades for the Western Conference. New face The Cavs signed guard Zhaire Smith to a 10-day contract Sunday. The 6-3, 205-pounder averaged 12.8 points and 4.4 rebounds for the G League Cleveland Charge. Turning point Bickerstaff said he believes the Cavs game at Chicago on Dec. 23 was the turning point in the season. Cleveland played without several key performers, yet still won 109-95. "Everyone was out," he said. "Guys stepped up. It was the signature moment. It was an ah-ha moment." Ice man Swingman Isaac Okoro has been taken out of the starting lineup, but he's still a key performer. The coaches call him a "programmed robot." "You tell him what to do and he does it," Bickerstaff said. "He's a guy you can depend on. He just doesn't make mistakes." No Wade Cavs forward Dean Wade missed the game with an illness. Bob Finnan can be reached at rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X. 76ers 123, Cavaliers 121 PHILADELPHIA (123): Martin 5-5 0-0 10, Oubre Jr. 10-14 2-2 24, Reed 6-10 1-1 13, Hield 9-13 1-1 24, Maxey 9-21 2-4 22, Bamba 3-6 0-0 7, Council IV 2-7 4-5 8, Payne 4-10 6-6 15, T.Smith 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 48-88 16-19 123. CLEVELAND (121): E.Mobley 6-11 1-2 14, Strus 4-7 0-0 10, Allen 9-13 3-4 21, Garland 9-16 0-0 21, Mitchell 9-20 14-17 36, Niang 0-4 0-0 0, Okoro 2-6 2-2 8, LeVert 5-14 0-0 11, Merrill 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 44-92 20-25 121. Philadelphia&emsp;34&emsp;32&emsp;25&emsp;32&emsp;—&emsp;123Cleveland&emsp; 33&emsp;29&emsp;30&emsp;29&emsp;—&emsp;1213-Point Goals—Philadelphia 11-26 (Hield 5-8, Oubre Jr. 2-3, Maxey 2-5, Bamba 1-2, Payne 1-3, Reed 0-1, Council IV 0-2, T.Smith 0-2), Cleveland 13-37 (Mitchell 4-9, Garland 3-8, Okoro 2-4, Strus 2-5, E.Mobley 1-2, LeVert 1-6, Merrill 0-1, Niang 0-2). Fouled Out—Philadelphia 1 (Hield), Cleveland None. Rebounds—Philadelphia 42 (Bamba, Martin, Reed 8), Cleveland 43 (Allen, E.Mobley 10). Assists—Philadelphia 25 (Maxey 9), Cleveland 33 (Garland 9). Total Fouls—Philadelphia 22, Cleveland 17. A—19,432 (19,432)