Jaylon Tyson punctuates career night with game-winning assist in Cavs’ 117-115 comeback over Sixers
PHILADELPHIA — It was a night Jaylon Tyson will never forget.
The short-handed Cavs rallied all the way back in the fourth quarter, stunning the Philadelphia 76ers, 117-115, on Friday night.
Another fourth-quarter comeback — despite being down for nearly 40 minutes, by a game-high 11 at one point. A two-game sweep in 48 hours against a playoff-caliber team that could be a threat in spring.
“They’re tough,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said of the Sixers. “They took us out of everything we wanted to run. It was like a playoff game from them. We struggled to handle it at times, but as the game wore on, we got better and better. We need to go on a little streak here and get in that top 4 picture. That’s the goal. Hopefully this will be a springboard.”
Cleveland was without second-leading scorer Darius Garland (right great toe soreness), Sam Merrill (sprained right hand), Dean Wade (knee contusion) and Max Strus (foot surgery).
It needed someone to step up.
Prior to tipoff, Atkinson singled out Craig Porter Jr., Lonzo Ball and Tyrese Proctor — three extra ballhandlers who were set for an increased workload.
Each of them made the most of the opportunity.
But none more than Tyson — a career night for the No. 20 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft who played sparingly as a rookie last season.
Tyson, who the Cavaliers believe should be in consideration for Most Improved Player of the Year, finished with a game-high 39 points, including 20 in the second half, on 13 of 17 shooting and 7 of 9 from 3-point range to go with five rebounds and four assists in 38 spectacular minutes.
“Man, what a game,” Atkinson said. “A five-star performance from him.”
After a sloppy first quarter in which Cleveland coughed the ball up eight times — the only blemish during an otherwise dazzling offensive display, with the Cavs making eight of their first 10 shots, tallying 31 points and dishing out 10 total assists — the score was tied.
By the end of the first half, Philadelphia had taken control, building a seven-point advantage.
The third quarter was played to a tie. Even though the Cavs got as close as three multiple times, they could never quite get over the hump, down seven going into the fourth quarter.
But Cleveland has gotten used to that position. It’s the 25th time trailing after three this year.
Fighting all the way back, the resilient Cavs tied the game around the six-minute mark on Philadelphia native De’Andre Hunter’s clutch triple that punctuated a 10-0 run.
The Sixers answered — a 7-0 response to make it a three-possession game again. It wasn’t until the 1:59 mark of the fourth quarter that Cleveland finally took its first lead of the second half.
Fittingly, it was Tyson with the go-ahead bucket, burying his seventh 3.
That lead lasted nine seconds, as the Sixers quickly went back in front — until Hunter’s forceful driving layup made it a one-point Cleveland advantage again with 1:05 left.
The final minute was a bit chaotic.
After Evan Mobley split a pair of free throws with 22 seconds remaining, Maxey tied the game with 8.1 seconds left on a driving floater.
Both teams needed to exhale.
In the timeout huddle, Atkinson drew up a play for Donovan Mitchell, the cold-blooded perennial MVP candidate and soon-to-be seven-time All-Star. But the Sixers, unsurprisingly, denied Mitchell, forcing reserve guard Lonzo Ball to look elsewhere.
Ball flipped it to Tyson. Of course it was him. Had to be. No other way for Friday to end.
The unfazed youngster gathered the inbounds pass, drove baseline and made the biggest play of the game.
A pass.
Mobley was on the receiving end, throwing down a two-handed game-winning dunk.
“A young guy like that, you would think he would challenge and try to get a bucket,” Atkinson said of Tyson’s late-game play. “The fact that he made the wrap-around dish to Evan, that speaks to his maturity and how much he has grown in two years.”
Tyson was one of six Cavaliers in double figures. Hunter had 16 points. Mobley finished with 15. Mitchell tallied 13 to go with 12 assists and nine rebounds.
Porter, the spot starter, dished out 11 assists. Little-used Proctor poured in 13 points off the bench. Ball logged 12 minutes.
“It was a good team win,” Tyson said. “I don’t want to make it all about me. I did have a good game. But I feel like everybody came in and made good plays that helped us win. Hopefully we can keep stacking them.”
The Sixers were led by Joel Embiid who had 33 points. Maxey chipped in with 22.
Given what happened two nights earlier inside the same building, Cleveland knew what to expect Friday. The Sixers would come out with more effort, energy and intensity.
They did.
But the Cavs matched it — when it mattered most.
And in a game that came down to one possession, one play, Cleveland made it. Well, Tyson did.
The perfect capper to an unforgettable night.
Up next
The Cavs will return home for a marquee matchup with the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday afternoon. Tipoff is set for 2:30 p.m.
