Dribbles: Guts, hustle, contributions everywhere. Cavs display it all in stunning Sixers

Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ gutsy 122-119 overtime road win against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday.

1. Let’s be honest — nobody figured the Cavs had a chance. On the road? Against reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid and the mighty Sixers? Without Donovan Mitchell? Yeah, forget it. Not gonna happen for the Cavs.

2. Only it did happen. Somehow, someway, the Cavs played perhaps their best game of the season. They defended. They fought Embiid and the Sixers for every loose ball and rebound. They didn’t give in when the Sixers tightened the defense (and dared the refs to call fouls) in the second half.

3. Not everything went perfectly for Cleveland. There were some ugly possessions, a couple of defensive breakdowns, and a few times when you thought, “Well, at least the Cavs played hard, even if they don’t win.” But they refused to let that be the motto of the night.

4. And when it comes to this one, it’s hard to pick an MVP. Certainly, Darius Garland warrants strong consideration. He was brilliant with 32 points and eight assists, knocking down the game’s biggest free throws. Yes, Garland struggled to 10-of-25 shooting, but even so, he kept attacking … and attacking … and attacking some more. It was all heart. 

5. He also finished 10-of-11 from the line in a game where the Cavs needed every last one. If the Cavs needed someone to lead in the belief department, Garland was their man.

6. But he had plenty of help. For instance, what a sensational showing by rookie Craig Porter Jr. — again. First-year point guards aren’t supposed to play so well in road games against an opposing power. Not unless they’re a lottery pick. Porter didn’t even get drafted. 

7. So far, Porter has given the Cavs more hope than Scoot Henderson has given to the Trail Blazers — and Henderson was the first point guard selected, No. 3 overall. That’s not meant to bash Henderson, who’s been injured lately. It’s just to show that Porter so far has been the biggest rookie surprise in the early NBA season. 

8. He took the ball right at Embiid. Usually, he scored. Other times, he drew the defense to him and delivered a perfect pass. Nothing fancy. It was just pure efficiency. In the end, Porter had compiled 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting with a team-high nine assists. And the Cavs outscored the Sixers by a whopping 21 points with him on the floor.

9. All that and we haven’t even mentioned Jarrett Allen, the man who had to spend the entire night wrestling with Embiid near the basket. No matter, Allen was magnificent and yes, physical, on his way to 26 points and 13 rebounds. It was undoubtedly one of his best all-around games in a Cavs uniform and probably since he entered the NBA.

10. OK, but what about Evan Mobley and Max Strus? Well, you guessed it — each made underrated yet massive contributions in his own right, as Mobley finished with 18 points and 12 boards, and Strus scored 20, connecting on five of his 10 3-point attempts.

11. That’s not all. The Cavs (8-6) also received a fine showing from Georges Niang, who scored 12 points on 5-of-9 from the field, and Dean Wade, who didn’t score at all. But Wade was active in grabbing eight rebounds and coming up with the game’s final steal, thwarting the Sixers’ hopes of tying it.

12. All of this happened not just without Mitchell, who missed his third straight game with a hamstring issue, but also minus Caris LeVert (knee) and Isaac Okoro (ditto). LeVert has missed each of the last two and Okoro each of the last seven. 

13. Yet the Cavs (8-6) have won four straight and six of the last eight. They have been getting it done as a team in every sense of the word, and Tuesday was the brightest example of that.

14. You also have to give credit to coach J.B. Bickerstaff here. He coaxed his players into following the game plan and getting every last drop out of them defensively. The Cavs mixed it up between zone and man-to-man, depending largely on who the Sixers had on the floor. For most of the night, it worked.

15. By the way, yes, this was an In-Season Tournament game. A loss would have eliminated the Cavs from hoping to advance to the knockout round. Instead, they’re 2-1 in group play with one game left — vs. the Hawks at home on Tuesday. So Cleveland is still very much alive.

16. OK, let’s backtrack a moment. I wrote in my pregame dribbles that I didn’t think the Cavs had much of a chance. I went on “Cavs Now” on WTAM radio before the game and said the same. I bet Philadelphia felt the same way I did. But all that matters is what the Cavs thought, and that was if they played the right way, they’d have a chance. That is precisely what happened. They toughed it out and have something to really build on.

17. Of course, this is the NBA and you can never feel good about yourself for too long. The Cavs now get defending Eastern Conference champion Miami at home in less than 24 hours.

Cavs halftime dribbles:

1. I haven’t been as impressed with the Cavs in any half as I have in this one. Scrapping, defending, aggressive at both ends, playing with belief. Great ball movement.

2. Darius Garland has been fantastic. Craig Porter Jr. too. The rookie just plays…

— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) November 22, 2023