Cavaliers Defeat Undermanned 76ers

Cleveland Cavaliers cruise to victory over short-handed Philadelphia 76ers

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the undermanned Philadelphia 76ers 116-98 on Monday night. The 76ers were without star players Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George due to injuries and suspension. The Cavaliers, led by Donovan Mitchell's 28 points, took control of the game early and cruised to the victory at home.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the Cavaliers' depth and ability to win convincingly even against a short-handed opponent. The 76ers' struggles without their top players raise questions about their ability to compete at the highest level in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The details

The Cavaliers jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, leading by as many as 20 points in the game. In addition to Mitchell's 28 points, four other Cavaliers players scored in double figures, including Darius Garland with 19 points and Evan Mobley with 16 points. The 76ers were led by Kelly Oubre's 24 points, but they struggled to find consistent scoring without Maxey, Embiid, and George in the lineup.

  • The game was played on Monday, March 9, 2026 at 7 p.m. ET in Cleveland, Ohio.

The players

Donovan Mitchell

The star guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers, averaging over 25 points per game this season.

Tyrese Maxey

The starting point guard for the Philadelphia 76ers, who missed the game due to a sprained right finger.

Joel Embiid

The All-Star center for the Philadelphia 76ers, who missed the game due to an oblique injury.

Paul George

The veteran forward for the Philadelphia 76ers, who missed the game due to a suspension.

Kelly Oubre

The starting forward for the Philadelphia 76ers, who led the team in scoring with 24 points in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We knew coming in that we had to take advantage of their missing players. Our guys did a great job of setting the tone early and maintaining that intensity throughout the game.”

— J.B. Bickerstaff, Head Coach, Cleveland Cavaliers (Cleveland.com)

“It's tough when you're missing that much firepower, but we have to find a way to compete and give ourselves a chance. We'll regroup and get ready for the next one.”

— Doc Rivers, Head Coach, Philadelphia 76ers (Philadelphia Inquirer)

What’s next

The 76ers will look to bounce back on Wednesday when they host the Milwaukee Bucks, while the Cavaliers will try to build on this win when they visit the Toronto Raptors on Friday.

The takeaway

This game showcased the Cavaliers' depth and ability to take care of business against a short-handed opponent, while the 76ers' struggles without their top players highlighted their reliance on their star power and the need to develop more consistent secondary scoring options.