Dribbles: Cavs take ‘professional’ approach, handle business to top Sixers

CLEVELAND — Random dribbles from the Cavaliers’ 115-101 fairly easy home win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.

1. That is what you’re supposed to do against an undermanned opponent in your building. You’re supposed to cruise.

2. So kudos to the Cavs for taking care of business on a night in which everything was set up to win. That’s not always easy in the NBA. But two of the newer Cavs made sure it happened.

3. We’re talking about James Harden (who else?) and Keon Ellis, who played his best game since coming to Cleveland. At least, Ellis did so statistically — finishing with 19 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-7 on 3-pointers.

4. For the record, Ellis’ season-high is 23, but he was still with Sacramento then.

5. As for the game, not much to mention. The Cavs were the better team, by a lot. They won, by a lot. End of story. But don’t worry, I’ll keep going, anyway.

6. Harden scored 21 and again forced nothing. Donovan Mitchell added 17, and you barely knew he was out there. Not because he played poorly or loafed. He too just went with the flow. Evan Mobley (15 points, eight rebounds) also did pretty much whatever he wanted.

7. Meanwhile, Dean Wade was even more aggressive than usual offensively. He went for 13 points and 10 rebounds. Jaylon Tyson tacked on 11 points. Basically, it was a teamwide effort — and that made this one look relatively effortless.

8. Coach Kenny Atkinson on the win: “For the most part, a pretty professional and mature performance by the guys, with only a little slippage here and there.”

9. As an aside, Atkinson was asked about Harden’s chemistry with Mobley, as they’re finally getting more of a chance to share the floor together (especially with Jarrett Allen sidelined). Harden has a reputation for unlocking big men, and there were a few moments Monday that he found Mobley for a bucket.

10. Atkinson on the Harden-Mobley connection: “I want them to get together and work on it more. I’ve talked to James about that.” He added, “I think as those guys get in the gym more … I’m excited about that.”

11. Meanwhile, the Sixers (34-30) are just trying to stay out of the play-in tournament at this point. It sure didn’t help not having Joel Embiid (oblique), Paul George (suspended), rookie VJ Edgecombe (lumbar) or Tyrese Maxey (finger). That’s about 87 points on the sideline. But as Atkinson warned before the game, “we haven’t always done well” playing undermanned opponents.

12. By the way, Harden became the ninth player in NBA history to record 29,000 career points in the win. “Testament to his resiliency,” Atkinson said. “It’s hard to do it in this league for so long. … What he’s given us so far is everything we need to win.”

13. The Cavs committed nine turnovers, compared to 14 for Philadelphia. Four or five of the Sixers’ passes were to … nobody, and landed in the third row. I’ve seen that before, but like once every 20 games. I’ve never seen it happen three times in the same night before Monday.

14. Now comes more tests, as five of the Cavs’ next six are on the road. That includes Wednesday at Orlando and Friday at Dallas, as the MAC Tournament takes over Rocket Arena.

15. The Cavs are 8-1 at home since March 23, with the lone loss in that stretch coming Sunday at home vs. Boston. They’ve won 18 of 24 overall.

• BOX SCORE | Cavs 115, Sixers 101
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