Sixers can’t overcome Donovan Mitchell’s season-high 46 points in 132-121 loss to the Cavaliers
Tyrese Maxey and Quentin Grimes scored 27 points apiece to lead the Sixers, who lost their second straight game.
CLEVELAND — Donovan Mitchell scored a season-high 46 points, Jarrett Allen had 24 points and 10 rebounds, and the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled away in the second half for a 132-121 victory over the 76ers on Wednesday night.
Evan Mobley added 23 for Cleveland, which won its second straight.
The Sixers, who never led in the game, got 27 points apiece from Tyrese Maxey and Quentin Grimes in dropping games on back-to-back nights.
Cavaliers’ All-Star point guard Darius Garland had eight points in 26 minutes in his season debut. Garland missed the first seven games after offseason surgery on his left big toe.
Mitchell followed up Sunday’s 37-point, eight three-pointer performance against Atlanta by going 15-of-21 from the floor, 6-of-11 from long distance, and making all eight of his foul shots.
Joel Embiid did not play Wednesday, skipping the second of a back-to-back because of left knee issues.
Cleveland stormed out to a 17-point lead eight minutes into the game before the Sixers slowly rallied and trailed at halftime, 70-67.
Kelly Oubre Jr.’s three-pointer tied it at 72 with 9 minutes, 48 seconds remaining in the third quarter before the Cavaliers regained control, scoring 13 straight points. Allen scored six during the run and Mobley added five.
Cleveland outscored Philadelphia by 35-15 the rest of the quarter and were up 107-87 going into the final 12 minutes.
The Cavaliers’ largest lead was 116-90 early in the fourth quarter after Mitchell’s driving jumper in the lane.
The Sixers made a late charge to get within nine late in the game.
The Sixers return to the Xfinity Mobile Arena to host the Toronto Raptors on Saturday (7:30 p.m., NBCSP). The Cavaliers will travel to Washington on Friday night to face the Wizards.