Sixers Beat Cavs on Wroten’s Buzzer Beater

By Doug Ammon, Sixers.com

On Monday, the Sixers did something they hadn’t been able to for the entirety of the 2014 portion of this season, win at home. The team’s 2015 slate at The Center got off to a thrilling start, as the Sixers were able to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 95-92 to improve to 5-28 on the season.

Philadelphia was able to erase a deficit that reached 17 in the third quarter to tie the game at 88 apiece with 1:50 left in regulation. With 18.9 seconds left, the Sixers were down 92-91 with the ball in Tony Wroten’s hand. Like he has done all season, the one-man wrecking ball attacked the rim with ferocious intent and finished through contact from Cleveland guard Joe Harris. The play gave the Sixers a 93-92 lead and sent home crowd into a frenzy. After a stop on the opposite end in the game’s waning moments, a foul sent Robert Covington to the free-throw line for Philadelphia. He hit both, and the Sixers completed the 95-92 victory.

“To be able to have our guys do that in front of our home crowd, and what we’re going through, we can’t be more grateful for their support and their patience,” said head coach Brett Brown after the game. “It needs to be rewarded, and the win tonight makes us feel like we gave something back.”

The Sixers were led by Tony Wroten and Michael Carter-Williams. Wroten had a team-high 20 points and 8 assists, and MCW was second in scoring with 18 points, he also dished out a team high 13 points and turned the ball over just one time in 42 minutes on the floor.

“Tony’s not going to die wondering, we all know that,” Brown said of Wroten scoring nine of the team’s last 13 points down the stretch. “You’d far prefer to have that ready, fire, aim mentality than being scared or cautious.”

After Carter-Williams sat out Saturday’s contest with right shoulder soreness, it was uncertain whether or not the reigning Rookie of the Year would suit up against Cleveland, but sure enough he was in the starting lineup and played perhaps his best game of the season. Carter-Williams is currently the only player in the NBA averaging at least 15.0 points, 7.0 assists, and 6.0 rebounds per game.

“We ran the floor. We got some layups and some open shots,” said Carter-Williams. “We made stops on defense. We fought. We just kept crawling back, and the guys did a great job.”

Robert Covington (16 points), K.J. McDaniels (12 points), and Henry Sims (12 points) all scored in double figures in the victory. Covington has scored at least 10 points in each of his last five games.

The Cavs were without superstars LeBron James and Kyrie Irving who both remained in Cleveland to rehab injuries. This paved the way for Kevin Love to assume the role of primary option on offense, and the 6’10” forward didn’t disappoint, leading all scorers with 28 points as well as 19 rebounds.

Tristan Thompson and the aforementioned Joe Harris also picked up the scoring slack, as Harris registered a career-high 16 points while Thompson’s 18 points were three shy of his career high.

Inside the Numbers: 0

In the fourth quarter of Monday’s game, the Sixers didn’t turn the ball over a single time. They outscored the Cavaliers 35-24 in the final frame.

Inside the Numbers: 17

Furkan Aldemir has pulled down 17 rebounds in his last two games, including 10 on Monday against the Cavs. The 23-year-old Turk is still getting accustomed to the NBA style of play, but his remarkable rebounding prowess has translated right away. He’s one of just eight players since 1985 to grab 10 rebounds in fewer than 20 minutes of action without attempting a shot, a feat he accomplished Monday against the Cavs.

Up Next

Philadelphia continues a mini-homestand on Wednesday when the 18-17 Milwaukee Bucks come to town. Tip time is 7pm (EST).