Philadelphia vs. Cleveland: Sixers Take Care of Business Against Cavs

After two consecutive losses, the Philadelphia 76ers resumed their winning ways against the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight. Six players hit double figures in the Sixers' balanced attack. Jrue Holiday, who had 20, and Lou Williams, who chipped in with 19, were the scoring leaders. The Cavs played without rookie guard Kyrie Irving and their starting center, Anderson Varejao.

Without a serious scorer at center for the Cavs, Doug Collins opted to start Lavoy Allen at center tonight. Neither Allen nor the Cavs' starting center, Semih Erden, scored. That is a tradeoff the Sixers will take any night, as it allows their guards to control and win the game.  In contrast to recent games, the Sixers got their fair share of free throws, sinking 23 of 30.

After a close first quarter, Nikola Vucevic got the Sixers started on a run with a slam off of an alley-oop pass from Thaddeus Young. The next time down the court, Young scored on a put-back off an offensive rebound. Then Lou Williams hit two free throws and a three-pointer, and less than two minutes into the second quarter, the Sixers had built an 11-point lead that they never lost. The Sixers grew the lead to 17 points at the half.

The only part of the game the Cavs won was on the boards, where they out-rebounded the Sixers 52-40.

Next up on Monday night is the Bobcats, who have now gone four weeks without a win.