Sixers vs Cavaliers Pick: Philadelphia Looks To End Seven-Game Skid (Jan 24)

• The Sixers are 15-27 and have the third-best record in the Atlantic Division.
• Cleveland is 36-7 and has the best record in the Central Division.
• These teams last played on Dec. 21, 2024, with the Cavs cruising to a 126-99 victory.

One of the games on tap from Friday night’s NBA slate features the Philadelphia 76ers hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers. Will Cleveland keep its winning streak intact against Philly in our Sixers vs Cavaliers pick?

Sixers Look To Recover From 35-Point Loss Against Denver

To be perfectly honest, the Sixers have seen better days. As if a 15-20 start isn’t bad enough, Philadelphia has dropped each of its last seven games, including a 144-109 drubbing at the hands of the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night.

Tyrese Maxey put forth a formidable effort, scoring a team-high 28 points and handing out 10 assists on 11-for-21 shooting from the field.

Guerschon Yabusele added 22 points off the bench. Paul George chipped in with 11 points, nine assists, and five rebounds.

The Sixers trailed by double digits at the break but got within eight points in the third quarter before Denver responded with a 24-12 run, essentially putting the game out of reach.

The Nuggets shot a sizzling 61.2 percent from the field, 51.6 percent from beyond the arc, and outscored Philadelphia 39-7 in transition.

Cavaliers Hope To Bounce Back From Loss Against Rockets

On the other side of this matchup, the Cavaliers came up short against the Houston Rockets 109-108 on Wednesday night.

Darius Garland led a trio of starters that reached double figures. He finished with 26 points and five assists and knocked down three of his six attempts from 3-point range.

Donovan Mitchell had a subpar outing, putting up 19 points on 7-for-21 shooting overall and just 1-for-8 from behind the 3-point line.

Jarrett Allen posted a double-double (17 points and 13 rebounds), while Ty Jerome led the second unit with 18 points.

After battling back to take and cough up a six-point lead in the final frame, the Cavaliers had a chance to win the game in the closing moments.

Unfortunately, Garland missed two of his first three free throws, and Mitchell’s 3-point attempt as the clock expired was unsuccessful.

Sixers vs Cavaliers Pick: Houston Hammers Embiid-Less Philly Squad

With Embiid nursing a knee injury, the Sixers have struggled. In addition to their current seven-game skid, the Sixers are ranked 27 in scoring (107.5 PPG) and 24th in offensive rating (110.4 Points Per 100 Possessions).

Meanwhile, despite their mediocre 3-3 record across its previous six outings, Cleveland owns the best record in the association.

Furthermore, the Cavaliers have the second-highest scoring average, boast the top offensive rating in the NBA, and are a top 10 team at the other end of the court.

Lastly, Cleveland has won the last three matchups between these franchises. And without Embiid providing a spark for the Sixers at both ends of the court, Cleveland should win this one in a rout.